...Evaluating...
After two years of training the 104th Cadets, Shadis recognized the strengths and weaknesses of every single one of the Cadets.
And throughout the months, he was evaluating the ones with the most potential, documenting it down in his notes.
Mounted on his horse in the pouring rain, he noticed the Cadet behind him taking the load off his comrade's back.
Reiner Braun. A strong soldier, physically and mentally. Trusted by his comrades.
Then the other soldier took back the load and pushed forward on foot.
Armin Arlert. Lacks physical strength, but an academic weapon. Truthfully, he's better off in some school.
In the forest, he watched the Cadets slice up the titan dummies.
Annie Leonhart. Strike form is flawless. But works poorly with others and tends to isolate herself. Has only one comrade she cooperates with so far.
Bertholdt Hoover. Great potential, but lacks initiative.
Jean Kirschtein. A master of ODM Gear, but his brash personality causes friction with the team. Frequently picks fights with another comrade.
Sasha Braus. Unconventional, brilliant instincts, but they make her unsuited to teamwork.
Connie Springer. Superior physical agility. Lacks mental agility.
Mikasa swung in and made two deep and brutal cuts in the two titan dummies.
Mikasa Ackerman. A master of all subjects, and widely considered one of the best in our history.
Eren swung in from under and made two shallower cuts at the top of the fake napes.
Eren Jaeger. No outstanding talents, but has worked harder than anyone to improve his marks. He is more motivated to attain his goal than anyone.
Lastly, you came in from the top, twirling both blades in your hands with ease, and launched yourself down. With a few swift swings, you carved out bigger dents than Mikasa and Eren's combined, centered in the middle. Shadis had much to say about you.
Y/n L/n. Arguably the most multi-talented human I have ever seen in my life. Perfect in all angles of physicality, agility, and flexibility. Impressive strategist. Natural born leader. Doesn't have parents herself, but can parent her comrades better then their own parents can. Rumored witch? Poor reputation but only with the weaker cadets. Will be referred to Captain Levi himself.
* . * .
After your spar with Mikasa, which gained nearly everyone's attention, you sat off to the sides to catch your breath.
You started off with the upper hand. Then as the fight went on, she caught up to you and was overpowering you. Truthfully, you were too busy being proud of her than to actually land some real hits. She was brutal and fierce whereas you were sly and fast. Her punches were hard and painful, landing powerful impacts, like a hammer to a nail. Your hits were sharp and concise, striking with purpose, like an arrow to its target.
It ended in a draw. Only because even though you were on top of her, both of you were squeezing each other's throats. You let go at the same time as she did and laid next to each other as the crowd clapped and cheered for the good show. Both sides who bet on either of you won no money.
You sat and watched Annie and Eren's spar. It wasn't a fair fight, not at all. She was too good and it ended within half a minute. And then she left right after.
"Well, wasn't that brutal?" pointed out Reiner.
"I didn't even land a single hit," said Eren. "But I want to spar with her again. That's the only way I can improve, right?"
"Tell you what, Eren," said Reiner. "If you can beat Y/n, you can beat anyone. Including Annie. What do you say, Y/n? You up to spar your 'best friend' again?"
You were taking in the warmth of the sun. "No."
"What?!" Eren exclaimed. "'No'? Why?"
"Eren, in all the years we've sparred, you've never beaten me." Never even came close.
"But I always learn something from you."
"Yeah, and that's the most important thing. You learn something new."
"Exactly, so what I'm saying is that I might be able to hold up a fight with you now."
You snorted. "No way."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want to."
"How do I make you want to?"
"You can't." You eyed him up and down, sizing him up. "Talk to me about that when you're taller than me, how's that? Best of luck."
"I am taller than you," he said, pointing at himself.
"No you're not."
"Yes I am."
You got up to your feet and stood side by side with him. "Reiner? Check it."
Reiner squinted his eyes. "Eren's taller."
"Ha! See?!"
"What? Reiner, you're unreliable," you said, waving him off dismissively. Then you called over Jean, Connie, and Sasha, who were all nearby.
"Eren's taller," they said. "By a lot, actually," added Jean. As they walked off, you stood there in place, still as stone. The day has finally come. You weren't the tallest, the most obviously older one anymore.
"So now can I talk to you about it?" He asked with a proud smirk. Upon closer look, yes, maybe you were looking up at him slightly. You sure as hell weren't going to admit it, though.
"No."
"Come on!"
"Hey Y/n," called Reiner. "If you're not going to spar with Eren, what about Annie?"
"Her?" The last time you two sparred was months ago. "Why? Didn't she just beat his ass?"
"It's so that Eren and I can learn a little something from you on how to beat her," he said. "Obviously we have to learn from the very best. What do you say? You up for it after your match with Mikasa?"
You thought about it not too deeply. It would be fun. Very fun. "Sure. Call her over."
Reiner yelled her name, catching her attention as she had just finished sparring someone else. He told her to come back. She shook her head. He yelled that you wanted to spar with her. She headed over immediately.
"Fighting Mikasa didn't wear you out?" asked Annie as she got into her stance.
You got into yours as well. "You know I've always got energy left for you."
"Save your flirting for somebody else." Her eyes averted to one of the two boys watching on the side.
Your eye twitched. "Alright then, you little bitch."
She lunged at you first with a punch straight to the face but all you had to do was shift your body and tilt your head. Then you ducked and struck her stomach faster than she could block you.
Whereas Mikasa's fighting style had more power, Annie's was a little more like you. Putting focus into striking the target. But she undoubtedly had more skills than you. She was trained in the martial arts by her father, after all. You were only self-taught by sparring with Mikasa and the rest of the cadets throughout the years.
But you were one hell of a fast learner. Whatever move she sent out, you reciprocated it with twice the force. When she tried swiping a leg to knock you off your feet, you reached back and pulled on the bun of her hair, dropping her down to the ground. She got up right after like nothing had happened.
And maybe you did use up a lot of your energy from fighting Mikasa because suddenly, you slipped up a move. She caught right onto it and in the next moment, you were pinned under her. A knee pressed on your ribs. Her wooden knife aimed down at your throat.
"Yield."
You got an idea. You stuck out your tongue at her, taunting her.
"You want me to cut your tongue out? I will." She pointed the point of the wooden knife up to your lips.
"Good." You bit into it and yanked it out of her grasp, the knife falling out of her reach.
In the split second when she was taken aback, you rolled her over and had her under you now. You grabbed her throat and held up your knife, ready in position to stab down into her face. "Yield." She lurched forward and rolled you over but you gained the upper hand and had her under you again. "Yield!"
She shut her eyes in annoyance. After a couple seconds, she relaxed. "I yield."
You rolled off her and laid by her side, the both of you catching your breaths while staring up at the sky. "So did you both learn something?" you asked, lolling your head to the side.
Reiner had a stunned expression as he scratched his neck. But Eren had his jaw dangling, eyes bulging out of its sockets.
You blew a few strands away from your face. "What?"
"How didâhow did you-"
Reiner snorted and elbowed Eren. "Calm down. You're about to drool."
"I am not!"
"Look at him. And you're still blind as a bat," Annie muttered for only you to hear.
"You asking for round two with that mouth?"
She stayed breathing for a moment. "Maybe I am."
"Then maybe I'm up for it too."
You both jumped up to your feet and commenced Round 2.0.
. * . *
In the dining hall, Jean's voice was so unbearably loud that you were practically forced into eavesdropping into his conversation with Marco. He was bragging about how he would end up as an MP living safe and luxuriously in the interior.
"An easy life, deep inside the walls?" Spoke up Eren. "Until five years ago, this was considered deep inside the walls."
Ugh, not this again. You glanced at Mikasa next to you, catching her rolling her eyes.
But words were never enough for him, no, he just had to start something as always. Then he and Jean got up, yelling at each other, threatening another fight to break out.
"Son of a bitch," mumbled Mikasa as she stood up and headed over. "Stop, guys," she said, removing Eren's hand from Jean's collar.
"FUCK YOU!" Jean's hand flew to Eren's collar instead.
"Let go! My clothes will rip!"
"Who gives a shit about your clothes?! Go back to your own girl!"
"Huh?! I don't have a girl!"
Mikasa, seeing that there was nothing else she could do, sat back down. But then, Eren made the first move. And to your surprise, he succeeded, having Jean down on the floor. The thing that really caught your attention was that the move he pulled was Annie's. You turned over your shoulder and she met your eyes, surprised in her own way as well. He's finally picking up, you both silently told each other.
And then the door creaked open. "If I am not mistaken, I have just heard a little commotion," said Shadis. He did not sound happy. "Would someone please care to explain?"
Eren and Jean slipped back into their seats. No one dared to make a sound.
But Mikasa raised her hand. "Y/n kissed Eren and he fainted to the ground."
"WHAT?!" you and Eren shouted at the same time.
Reiner spat out his drink behind you. Sasha and Connie bonked heads trying to cage in their laughter. You even heard Krista's muffled giggles from the corner.
Shadis clicked his tongue. "Graduation is around the corner! Control your hormonal tendencies until then!" Then he shut the door.
The entire dining hall bursted into laughter. You clutched Mikasa's shoulders and shook her as you yelled, "Mikasa?! Why did you do that?! What was the reason?!" Mikasa just looked up to the ceiling, smirking.
"Mikasa, that was really... smart of you," said Armin who looked like he was trying his best not to laugh along with Sasha and Connie.
"Shut up, Armin! It was stupid! What're you talking about?!"
Eren, both stiff and face red as hell, sneaked away to Jean's table to continue their argument quietly. As soon as he left, Annie stole his seat. "That was one hell of a save, Mikasa."
"Annie, shut the fuck up!"
Even Reiner came over and leaned against the table. "So, how was the kiss?"
You wanted to scream and rip out your vocal cords and keep screaming. For the rest of the night, no one gave you any peace.