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Chapter Text

10 October 1916

Eren Jaeger never imagined he’d be spending his eighteenth birthday like this; freezing in the cold, watching the truck that brought him there skid away in a spray of mud. He grimaced, wiping his face with his sleeve, the sludge smearing rather than disappearing, and glanced around at the other recruits. Their faces were pale with anticipation as they stared out at the dreary, barren expanse ahead.

This wasn’t what he had envisioned for himself as a boy, but it had been his decision alone to leave everything behind to support the cause his country was fighting for by enlisting in the British Army. The promise of something greater than himself, something truly meaningful, had burned a searing flame in his chest.

He could still picture the recruitment poster that had stopped him in his tracks: bold letters proclaiming, ‘BRITONS WANTS YOU!’ overtook his thoughts. His fists had clenched at his sides as determination surged through his bones. Yes, he’d been just months shy of eighteen, but he couldn’t wait. Every delay felt like a betrayal to the soldiers already fighting and putting down their lives for him.

His father’s indifference to the War had only stoked the fire inside. Eren needed to prove to himself, and his family, that he was honorable. And if a small lie about his age could save lives, it seemed like a miniscule price to pay.

Boot camp had been a test of patience more than that of actual skill. He’d quickly proven himself as a decent shot and capable fighter, but the endless drills had felt like a waste of time. When the day finally came to board the train to France, it had been exhilarating. It was finally his turn to show those dirty huns what he was made of.

Now, standing amidst the muck and stench of the trenches, reality hit him hard. There was no patch of green, no sign of life; just mud, vermin, and the wooden walls of the British trenches snaking throughout the desolate land ahead. Eren had to admit, though, that the sheer scale of the trenches impressed him. It would have taken decades to dig so much alone, and yet the British had only occupied the vicinity for three measly months.

The smell was another issue entirely. It assaulted him in a sharp, putrid lash. It was unlike anything he’d ever known—a mix of human waste, decay, and something metallic he couldn’t name, but slightly recognized from his father’s medical office.

He figured it could be from the dead animals, and the thought made his stomach turn. He didn’t allow himself to continue treading over what exactly was causing it.

As he took in his new surroundings, a sharp ‘pst’ drew his attention. Turning, Eren spotted a man in a wrinkled, somewhat-clean, military-issued top with a cigarette dangling from his fingers. The man jerked his head to the side, motioning Eren over.

As he walked over to stand in front of the man, he immediately caught the poignant tang of cigarette smoke. The scent irritated his nose (he’d never been a fan of it). Still, considering cigarettes were part of the rations, he figured they were commonplace among soldiers and just another thing to get used to.

“Nice to meet you, sir! My name is Eren Jaeger,” Eren said, his voice betraying his eagerness as he extended a hand. However, the man simply took another slow drag from his cigarette and shot him a glance, barely acknowledging the gesture.

Eren hesitated, awkwardly dropping his hand. “Today’s my first day on the Front,” He offered sheepishly, hoping to fill the uncomfortable silence.

“No shit it’s your first day on the front,” The man replied dryly, his tone carrying a note of amusement that made Eren shift back a step.

“Why do you say that?” Eren asked, confusion lacing his tone.

The man let out a brief, breathy laugh. “Are you fucking kidding me? Look at you- you’re a bloody child.” He took a slow, deliberate drag from his cigarette, then exhaled the foul-smelling cloud through his nose.

Eren’s cheeks flushed, heat rising to his face with defensive pride. “I’ll have you know I’m eighteen years of age. That’s old enough to fight.”

The man tilted his head, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Old enough, huh? Let’s see if you’re still talking big after a day in No Man’s Land.”

Before Eren could think of a reply, the shrill, unmistakable sound of whistles pierced the air. The man’s smirk vanished instantly, and was replaced by a grim, focused expression. He flicked the half-smoked cigarette to the ground, grinding it out under his heel as he turned and made for the trenches without another word.

Eren’s heart pounded as he scrambled to follow. His boots sank deep into the soggy ground with each step. The cold, clinging mud slowed his movements.

All around him, men were shouting; their frantic voices barely cutting through the growing chaos. Artillery fire thundered in the distance, its ominous rumble sending vibrations through the ground.

Soldiers clambered over trench walls in a desperate rush, their faces taut with determination and dread. Eren found himself rooted in place for a moment, his breath quickening as the reality of the battlefield closed in around him.

Before he could fully process his environment, the rude man from earlier was suddenly back, standing before him and a cluster of other soldiers; some of whom had ridden to the trenches with Eren just recently.

Eren furrowed his brow in confusion, then suddenly froze as his eyes caught the decorated insignia on the man’s freshly donned coat. It hit him like a hard blow to the gut—this wasn’t just any soldier.

He’d been arguing with a Corporal.

His stomach twisted as he came to terms with the fact that he’d disrespected a superior officer—on his very first day.

Swallowing hard, Eren felt his earlier confidence shrink under the weight of the realization. His hands fidgeted, the unease in his chest growing.

“Alright, men!” The Corporal barked, his voice cutting through the noise with sharp authority. His presence seemed larger now, commanding attention as he stood before them.

“This is it; another trial. I recognize that half of you are green,” His sharp gaze lingered briefly on Eren, accompanied by the faintest trace of a smile.

“But if you follow my orders and keep moving, you will make it back to these fine, beautiful trenches today.” The battle-hardened men among them chuckled darkly, while Eren and the other recruits listened in frozen silence.

“On my queue, it’s right over the Top we go. You answer to me and no one else. Are we clear?”

The men murmured their agreement.

“Good. Be ready, don’t let today be your last.” He blew his whistle, and the men began scrambling up and over the battered trench walls.

The seasoned soldiers led the way, crouching low in the mud to help hoist the recruits over the slick edges. Above, the Corporal’s shout rang out. “MOVE! Get your asses out of here!”

Eren grasped onto a hand reaching down to him just as a sickening squelch split the air. He froze as the metallic tang of blood flooded his senses. The man helping him collapsed into the filthy ground, lifeless eyes staring blankly into his own.

Eren’s breath caught in his throat as he took in the body laid before him. His chest tightened and his lungs struggled to draw air, as the chaotic noises of battle deafened him.

Nausea rose in his throat as he stood motionless, paralyzed by the sight of the corpse.

“PRIVATE JAEGER!”

Eren was snapped out of his internal thoughts. The Corporal shoved the fallen soldier aside, seizing Eren with a grip of iron and hauling him out of the trench. “Move, kid! If you freeze up out here, you’re dead.”

Eren’s heart thundered in his chest as he scrambled over the trench wall, his rifle slipping in his sweaty grip.

Ahead, he caught sight of the Corporal. The man’s rifle was aimed with unnerving precision. Each shot was deliberate, the kind only a man accustomed to death could deliver. Eren only followed in stunned awe as the Corporal blew his whistle, commanding the unit with brisk, decisive signals.

“Don’t fucking cluster up!” The Corporal barked.

“Spread out and stay low! If they fire on you, drop behind any pile of mud you can find in this shithole!”

Mud suctioned Eren’s boots, dragging him down as gunfire cracked overhead like a whip. He stood and stumbled forward, barely breathing.

Around him, men fell, their bodies jerking unnaturally as bullets tore through them. The air was thick with screams; agonizing, primal sounds he never imagined humans could make.

Suddenly, a machine gunner from the German trenches spotted them in the open expanse of No Man’s Land. The soldier wasted no time picking off two recruits; men Eren recognized from the journey over.

Eren kept running, attempting to follow orders and not cause even more problems.

Nearby, a young man’s face was struck by shrapnel. Half of his face was torn off: skin, bones, and all. The boy fell to his knees and began helplessly grabbing at pieces of flesh, where steam rolled off the mess of blood and grinded meat.

He turned to Eren with a single, pleading eye. “Can you find my face, please? My mother… she won’t like to see me this way when I get home. I really need you to-” The words were cut short by a bullet striking straight through his skull.

Eren blanched, pausing in his movement. He stood in the open field like a sitting duck. ‘I can’t do this. I can’t-’

“JAEGER!” The Corporal’s voice sliced through his panic. Hands trembling, Eren barely registered the rough shove that sent him sprawling into the mud.

“Stay down, damn it!” The veteran growled, his rifle cracking with a deafening roar. “Get your shit together, or you’ll wind up getting us both killed.”

Eren stared up at the man. It was as if he was born to be there, a strong soldier, unyielding in his presence. Rather than the all-encompassing fear Eren was wrestling with, a sense of trust and hope took over his soul.

Eren continued watching in astonishment as the Corporal easily bolted his rifle, firing a shot and hitting his current target, a machine gunner. As the MG’s lifeless body sloped over the gun, another German came from behind to pull him off, but the Corporal was too fast. After another couple clicks and a bang, a second body fell amidst the gun. His movements were unrelenting, each action swift and deadly.

Eren couldn’t believe the shots the man was able to make. No wonder he treated him so hostily, this man must be a legend in the trenches. He didn’t have time for silly recruits that didn’t know left from right.

“Damn it,” The man grumbled, “They just keep coming, and it’s getting worse.” He looked to Eren, sincerity and decisiveness in his eyes, “We’re falling back before this gets anymore grim.” He blew his whistle, rallying the unit of men. “Fall back! Now!”

The Corporal jumped up and grabbed a handful of Eren’s coat to throw him to his feet like it was nothing. He looked back to Eren then, once again gripping him by the collar, this time pulling him close. “You’re going to be alright. Listen to me. Trust me.”

Eren blinked, his panic momentarily dulled once again by the Corporal’s resolute confidence. Despite the onslaught of bullets and men falling around him, all he saw was the man’s intense gaze.

The Corporal quickly turned away, leading the retreat.

Eren’s face heated as they fell back to their own trenches. Once there, the remaining men all jumped in, immediately sloping to the ground.

“That was one hell of a day at work, huh, boys?” One of the veterans quipped, sparking laughter from his comrades. The sound grated against Eren’s ears. ‘How can they joke about it? How can they feel so untouched by the deaths of their comrades?’

He glanced over at the only other recruit who had survived, noticing that the same haunted expression he held was etched onto the boy’s face as well.

The ‘humor’ that carried the men around him made Eren feel even worse about his situation.

‘Is there something wrong with me? There must be, if this is how I’m reacting.’

Eren stuck decently close to the group, but intentionally sat at a further distance than most of the others. He was trembling, his heart beating irregularly. He curled up on the cold, damp ground and proceeded to clamp his hands over his mouth.

Tremors racked through his body. He couldn’t stop shaking. He didn’t feel okay.

He wasn’t okay.

His breathing grew shallow and frantic, his heart hammering against his ribs. The panic surged, wild and unwilling to settle.

—

As the hours dragged on, the trench quieted. Most of the platoon had settled down. Even the other recruit had succumbed to exhaustion, slumped against the trench wall. Eren eventually got his breathing under control, though it took far longer than he cared to admit.

He sat with his thoughts, knees drawn to his chest, when a voice cut through the dark. “You doing alright now, boy? Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it in no time!” One of the soldiers, a man with ash-grey hair chuckled, prompting more laughter from the group. Eren barely looked up, pulling his knees tighter against himself.

He hardly noticed someone sit down beside him until they spoke. “I’m sorry, they’re assholes… Actually, we’re assholes, as you experienced earlier.”

Eren turned to see the Corporal sitting next to him, offering a faint, almost sheepish bump to his shoulder.

Eren managed a weak smile, though he doubted it looked convincing. “It’s fine.”

The man’s hard gaze softened just slightly.

“It’s not fine.” He said bluntly, leaning forward to rest his arms on his knees. “But out here, nothing is. That’s the reality.”

Eren swallowed hard, unsure how to respond. His fingers picked at the fabric of his uniform.

“I just… I don’t know if I can do this.”

“You can.” The Corporal said, the words surging through the darkness with quiet conviction. “You survived today, didn’t you?”

“Barely.” Eren muttered, looking away. “I froze. I almost got myself killed… I almost got you killed.”

The man beside him let out a short exhale, not quite a sigh, but close.

“You’re green. That’s expected. But you didn’t stop fighting for your life when it mattered, and that’s what counts.”

Eren blinked, surprised by the unexpected reassurance.

The man straightened, the hard edge of his voice returning. “Here’s the truth, Jaeger: the fear never goes away. Not for me, not for anyone. But you’ll figure out how to use it instead of letting it use you. Just stay close to me, and I’ll make sure of it.”

Eren looked at him, the weight of the Corporal’s words sinking in. “Why bother with me?” He asked hesitantly.

Hazy grey eyes lit by the nearby lantern locked onto his own. “Because I’m not letting a kid too young to be here die on my watch. Now get some rest, tomorrow could be worse.”

The Corporal stood, brushing the dried mud off his pants before giving Eren one last glance. “You’ll do fine, Eren. Just don’t make me regret saying that. Also,” He paused, “Call me Levi. But remember, it’s ‘officially’ Corporal Levi Ackerman, to you.” He winked, smirking as he stalked away.

Chapter Text

11 October 1916

Eren wouldn’t say he had the best sleep of his life after his first day in No Man’s Land. He woke up on roughly fifteen separate occasions, thrashing and screaming. Strangely, it didn’t seem to disturb the men around him. Perhaps they were just stronger than himself; or too numb to care anymore.

Eventually, around an hour or two before sunrise, Eren stood up, bones cracking into place and knees aching. Growing old was going to be a struggle for him if he was already like this as a teenager.

Glancing to his right, he noticed his Corporal standing nearby, talking to another member of his platoon.

Eren made his way over but was intercepted by the platoon member in question, “HI!” He excitedly waved, “My name’s Hanke! Welcome to the squad, mate!”

With a hand thrust in his face, Eren was caught off guard by the soldier’s exuberance. He hesitated before shaking the extended hand in turn.

Unlike Levi, Eren had been raised to respect proper greetings, even under these grim circumstances. He also didn’t wish to piss off any more soldiers after his first introduction with the Corporal.

"I'm Eren Jaeger," He replied with a polite smile, "Lovely to meet you. I hate to interrupt, but could you point me toward the latrine? I’m in urgent need.”

“The thunderbox, eh?” Hanke said with an exaggerated nod, gesturing vaguely over his shoulder. “You’ll have to go a fair way. What is it? Number one or number two?”

Eren blinked, stifling an incredulous laugh. “What kind of question is that?”

Before Hanke could answer, Levi appeared behind him, giving the taller man a solid kick to the backside.

Hanke stumbled forward, clutching onto his back. “Hey!” He yelped, spinning around to glare at Levi. “What the hell was that for?”

Eren froze, bracing himself for what he assumed would be a brutal dressing down of the obnoxious soldier.

The Corporal simply laughed, reverberating a low sound that peaked Eren’s interest. For some reason, he found that he quite enjoyed the noise. Perhaps it was because of the knowledge his fellow soldier wasn’t going to suffer for the disrespect?

“You’re a fucking idiot, Hanke,” Levi said flatly. Turning to Eren, he added, “I apologize for his behavior. He may be even more of a child than you are, Eren.”

Eren flushed, embarrassment and indignation warring in his chest.

Attempting to maintain his composure, he clenched his fists. Unfortunately, his lifelong temper would take more than just a day to fizzle out. “Corporal, I’ve already told you; I’m not a child. I’m eighteen and here under legal obligation.”

Levi raised a skeptical brow, his tone laced with mockery, “Oh, sure. And that eighteenth birthday of yours? Yesterday, wasn’t it? At least, that’s what I overheard you mumbling about.” He quirked an eyebrow, smirking, “Illegal enlistment at seventeen. Sounds about right.”

That caught Eren off guard, as he hadn’t been aware he’d been speaking his mind aloud the previous day. Crossing his arms, he stammered, “Well—yes, but that’s irrelevant now! I’m eighteen and fit to serve, so there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Levi’s face turned to stone. He stepped closer, tilting his head slightly up at Eren, “Are you sassing me, brat?”

Eren stilled, briefly forgetting his place.

Realizing his mistake, Eren snapped to attention, “No, sir! I mean, no, Corporal. My apologies.”

The man looked sternly at Eren, before his expression cracked and a smile tugged at his lips, “You cannot be in the Army and be this fucking gullible, Jaeger!” He said with a shake of his head.

Eren, annoyed but breathing a sigh of relief, replied, “I don’t understand. It wasn’t like this in boot camp.”

Levi chuckled, “Of course not, it’s not like this anywhere else in general. Luckily, the Captain is easy on me. Although, I suppose he kind of has to be.”

Eren wasn’t sure what he meant, but he chose not to question it.

Levi looked inquisitively at Eren, seemingly intrigued. “Hey, didn’t I ‘command’ you to call me Levi, not this ‘Corporal’ crap? I don’t like to be reminded of my job title; it’s a stupid formality that isn’t warranted around here.”

Eren shook his head. “I apologize for that, Corporal—I mean, Levi. It’s just strange to refer to a superior so improperly.”

Levi pouted, looking at Eren with fake pity. He reached up a hand, ruffling Eren’s hair, “Such a boy. ‘Improper’? Come on, Jaeger. You don’t want to be talked down to like a child anymore, right?”

The question hung in the air.

“No, I do not,” He replied.

“Well then, stop speaking like one. Don’t want any of the other guys in the company to mess with you. That’s reserved for me, and my Corporal-ative authority,” Levi smirked, stepping back from Eren.

Eren shook his head and patted down his hair, putting it back into place.

“Get used to it,” Levi said, his smirk deepening. “Now, let me show you to the thunderbox before you make an even bigger fool of yourself.”

—

As the two returned, Eren’s stomach churned at the memory of the latrine’s overwhelming stench. It was easy to see why it was kept so far away.

Greeting them, a very excitable Hanke was grinning broadly, bouncing on his heels, “Levi, why don’t you grab some shut-eye? I’ll handle your morning duties,” He offered, his tone a bit too cheerful.

Levi seemed uncomfortable. He skeptically raised a brow. “Need I remind you of the last time you did me that ‘favor’?”

Hanke’s grin faltered, but quickly returned with a forced cheer to it. “Oh, come on! That was ages ago, and it wasn’t that bad. I’ve learned from my mistakes!”

Levi snorted, unimpressed. “Not that bad? Allow me to refresh your shit memory. You left the sentries unmanned because you decided to take a ‘quick nap’. By the time I found out, half the trench thought we were under attack because someone… What was it? Oh right, ‘saw movement’.”

Hanke winced, responding, “Ooooh right. But hey, in my defense, I did wake up eventually!”

Levi rolled his eyes, “Yeah, only to find out it was a bloody rat you saw running around No Man’s Land. It’s a miracle Erwin didn’t wring my neck for that stupid ass blunder.”

Eren, who had been standing there listening quietly, couldn’t stifle his laugh. The image of a panicked platoon mobilizing in formation over a rodent was too much for him to handle.

“Wait, all of that... over a rat?” With tears welling, he connected eyes with Levi for a split second. He smiled at the man, noticing there was something brewing in the stone-cold eyes of the stoic Corporal.

A smirk rose and left the superior’s lips as quickly as it had appeared, before he quickly diverted his attention back to Hanke in a clumsy manner. Eren didn’t have time to think on the implications too long, still giggling at Hanke’s major slip-up.

Hanke threw up his hands, a grin creeping back in. “It was a big rat, Levi! Looked like it had plans to enlist, I swear.”

The returning glare Levi threw at Hanke could have cut steel. “Hanke, if you screw up again, I won’t wait for Erwin. I’ll string you up myself.”

His eyes flicked back to Eren’s, raising his awareness. “Eren, you’re keeping an eye on him. Any funny business, report it directly to me; and don’t hold back on the details. Hanke needs some tough love until he’s able to prove himself as my Second again.”

Eren nodded, still grinning. “Understood, sir. Uh, Levi.”

Levi smirked, shaking his head as he lit a cigarette. “It’s your funeral, Jaeger.” His voice was calm, almost amused, as if the outcome didn’t particularly concern him.

After taking in a puff of smoke, Levi walked off and strode toward the dugout. His moderate frame stepped into the ghost-like haze, the release of cigarette smoke unraveled into the dust and gunpowder thick in the air, as if the war itself had been waiting to reclaim him.

Eren stared after him, feeling a strange mix of admiration and frustration. For a man who claimed to despise his job, Levi carried an air of command that demanded respect; even if he was insufferably hard to read.

Hanke, meanwhile, sidled closer, his grin taking on a conspiratorial edge. He tilted his head toward Levi’s retreating figure, as if preparing to share some grand secret.

“Don’t worry, mate. I’ve got this. Besides,” He added, leaning in like a cheeky schoolboy about to reveal something outrageous, “It’s not like you can get in trouble, Levi’s already adopted you as his favorite.”

Eren groaned, his face heating up in embarrassment. “That’s ridiculous. I’ve known him for all of one day.”

Eren’s heart began to race as a flush overtook his cheeks, perhaps because he realized that he had to be on his guard around Levi, knowing he was being closely watched.

Was the man actually paying ‘special’ attention to him? Eren didn’t feel like it. Levi seemed to be showing him the typical ropes of a rookie, possibly needing to manage him more solely because of the mistakes he was constantly making, especially in battle.

Hanke snorted, slapping Eren’s shoulder in a friendly, if overly familiar, gesture. “One day can be a lifetime on the Somme. Trust me, I’m his Lance Corporal, I’ve been here long enough to spot the signs. He’s already watching out for you. Well, in his own, grumpy way. You must’ve done something right, even if you don’t realize it yet.”

Eren frowned, his mind racing through the whirlwind of his brief encounters with Levi. The man had berated him, teased him, and somehow still managed to shield him from further embarrassment at times; at least when it came to other soldiers messing with him.

Maybe there was a sliver of truth to Hanke’s claim.

“I didn’t ask to be anyone’s favorite,” Eren muttered, kicking at the mud beneath his feet.

Hanke barked a laugh, the sound loud enough to make a few nearby soldiers glance their way. “Welcome to the trenches; where you take what you’re given and hope it doesn’t explode in your face.”

Eren trusted Hanke on his judgments of Levi, considering he was the man’s Lance Corporal. Still, the sentiment didn’t make sense to him. He knew he wasn’t anything special.

—

Eren followed Hanke around, absorbing lessons on the basics of trench life. While Levi slept, they kept to the floorboards, ensuring they were secure and wouldn’t allow for too much water to seep through and risk spreading trench foot throughout the platoon. They also prepared and passed out the designated portions for breakfast, organized watch rotations (thankfully, there wasn’t another rat incident), and methodically cleaned their rifles.

As they were finishing up, Levi emerged from one of the dugouts, lighting up a cigarette with a flask of whiskey in-hand. Eren couldn’t help but blink in surprise; drinking so soon after waking seemed extreme, but he kept his thoughts to himself. He had seen many other soldiers do the same.

Eren had never drunk alcohol before and had no interest in the acidic-smelling liquid the British government freely handed out. He wrinkled his nose at Levi, watching as he took a swig, tucked the flask back into his coat, and shook his head. With his rifle slung over one shoulder and a cigarette dangling from his fingers, Levi trudged toward them.

Eren greeted him with a bright smile from the wet trench flooring. “Hi, Levi! Hanke did great, he even put men on sentry duty, with rotations!”

The faint light of dawn streaked across the sky as Levi nodded, still shaking off sleep, “Shit, I hope so. Otherwise, we’re all screwed. We got lucky it was just a rat last time; doubt we’d get off that easy again in this hellhole.”

Levi clambered onto a crate, cigarette still in hand, and called out to his unit. “Alright, boys! Another day in paradise. Hope you managed at least a couple minutes of sleep.”

The gathered men looked worse for wear, their faces lined with exhaustion. Eren couldn’t blame them, he hadn’t slept well either.

As he watched Levi command the group, he wondered how the man held everything together day after day.

“Either way,” Levi continued, “We live to see another shitty day. Stand-to!”

The men moved to their designated posts within the trench, keeping low and listening for any signs of enemy activity along the horizon. Eren, though familiar with the general structure from boot camp, hesitated. Thankfully, Hanke pulled him aside and positioned him between himself and another battle-hardened soldier.

The man was about Eren’s height, slightly taller, and more muscular. Although Eren was strong himself (he didn’t want to brag, but he did have enough muscle to make the girls in his hometown swoon), this man could definitely take him in a fight. He had short, bright, blonde hair and hazel eyes that seemed ever-alert. His expression was grim, the kind forged by years of war. Though his body was youthful, Eren guessed his face had been aged prematurely by the relentless strain of combat.

As Eren found himself staring, the man’s piercing gaze snapped toward him, pinning him in place. The intensity made Eren avert his eyes in an instant, his cheeks flushing as he focused on the sky, his rifle, his boots; anything but those unrelenting eyes.

After what felt like an eternity, the man’s attention shifted back to the landscape, allowing Eren a quiet sigh of relief. He made a mental note to ask Hanke about him later, assuming he might have a story or two.

They stood for hours as the sun rose, the silence broken only by the occasional crack of sniper fire. No major engagements came their way.

Levi called them off, and gathered them back around. “Alright, men. Playtime! Let's head back and get to work on some training while we have the opportunity. We shouldn’t have to worry about initiating any attacks today, unless the Captain says otherwise. Recruits—” His gaze fell briefly on Eren, “—I can’t wait to see what your toddler boot camps taught you. Don’t worry, we’ll teach you how to actually fight. No more kid stuff.”

As Levi looked back at the group, another soldier spoke up, “How many recruits from this last shipment are even left, Corporal? They don’t seem all that… adequate,” The same man with the shaggy, ash-brown hair and an irritating voice from the day before, spoke.

Eren’s jaw tightened, and his face reddened. ‘What a pompous ass,’ He thought. Speaking about fellow soldiers like that; it was disgraceful. He had already decided he didn’t like the guy.

“Shut up, Kirstein,” Levi commanded, his cold tone silencing the group without discourse, “These men are your brothers now. They’ve seen battle. You were much worse off when you were green. Trust me on that.”

A ripple of laughter passed through the men around the asshole, Jean. They elbowed him as his face turned pink with embarrassment under Levi’s scolding.

Levi didn’t linger on the moment. “Alright, let’s get moving.”