Love & War || Levi Ackerman

Chapter 3 | Soldiers

Sara's Point of View

Five years since the fall of Wall Maria, things have been going better for the Survey Corps than expected. Hanji was able to progress on her titan searches, and I helped her make an efficient and non-threatening trap that will lessen the chances of anyone dying when we capture titans for her research.

And like any squad leader would do, I'd say I was pretty busy myself these days.

"Captain, those are pickles, not cucumbers!" Erica scolds lightly.

It is an important task. Grocery shopping is harder than most people think, and those who said it was easy are probably the ones who have never been handpicking their own food in the first place. Since the squad doesn't really have much to do, and I finished my office work early, they all practically forced me to go with them down the plaza in Wall Rose to buy food for the bonfire they set tonight with Squad Levi. I'd say it's stupid, but I realized that they do deserve some relaxing time amidst our chaotic life as soldiers.

Squad Levi was assigned to bring the cooking equipment and other things while we were assigned to buy the actual ingredients we will be using later tonight. Apparently, Erica and Petra were the ones who suggested the bonfire and the boys were quick to agree regardless of me and Levi not knowing at all.

"Eri, they look just like cucumbers." I scoff.

"Captain, these are cucumbers." She holds a longer green vegetable in front of my face, and its texture was smoother than the one I was holding. "That's a pickle. It's kind of sour, cucumbers aren't."

"How was I supposed to know that? It's not like people give free taste on vegetables." I folded my arms over my chest and followed her through the many stalls that sold varieties of fruits, vegetables, and meat. "What about we get the meat? I know all about meat!"

"Midas and Hans are already taking care of the meat, and you would've bought everything if we actually go near a single meat shop." She sighs, obviously so done with my obliviousness to vegetables. Don't get me wrong. I eat vegetables. I eat anything, to be really honest. I just never took the time to actually know the names of each one since there's almost thousands of it.

I think.

"Are we done yet?" I groan.

"Almost, Captain." Erica sang. "It feels like I'm taking care of a child."

"Do you want to get kicked out?"

"Nope! Who's a child? Never seen one! Hehe."

I only rolled my eyes while following her towards the—hopefully—last stall we're going to today. I still can't believe they managed to drag me all the way here in the market to buy food. They all knew that I was never one to go out and buy stuff, but they somehow convinced me. Well, maybe using a little force from Gil and Midas.

"We're done!"

Both Erica and I turned from the stall we were at to see the boys returned with sacks of meat and fruits on their backs. Mostly meat, and it made my mouth water in delight. "Captain, you're drooling." Hans chuckles.

"Great! I just need to get some tomatoes and we're all set for later." Erica said enthusiastically. While she was paying the vendor behind the stall, I grabbed the sack she was holding and carried it on my back easily. There were many vegetables stuffed inside that she bought throughout the time we roamed around the market, and it was a little heavier than expected, but it was still light to carry.

"It's still a wonder how you can cook delicious food, but never knew what you were using to cook, Captain." Midas teases.

"It's called survival instinct and natural taste, Midas." I playfully clicked my tongue out at him. We are off-duty, so it was okay for us to be informal. I usually take this time to get closer to my soldiers in a deeper level, especially when it comes to their emotional stability. It is important for me to keep track of how well they are actually doing in both heart and mind for better performance in the battlefield.