ONE
pride

LIFE INSIDE THE WALLS was like walking on egg shells. Every morning, men, women, and children alike couldn't help but wonder if that would be their last day alive. The looming threat of the Titans surrounded the citizens on all four sides, and they all had no choice but to sit and wait for the day of reckoning to come.

Valor knew life wasn't always like this. Her little brother, Armin, always talked about life outside the walls. His eyes lit up at the thought of flaming water, lands made of pure ice, and fields of sands that went on for miles and miles, farther than the eyes could see. Past the horizon and stretching to the end of the world, there were places the people in the walls couldn't even dream of, he would say. But the one place he dreamed of more than any was the sea. The sea, like a lake, but much larger, full of salty water all the way down.

The two were more alike than Valor cared to admit. Same blonde hair and round faces, big eyes and calm demeanor. Same adventurous spirit, as well. Her dreams were filled with snowy mountains that were so tall they broke through the clouds, forest so thick and green you couldn't see three feet ahead of you, and lakes so crystal clear you could see the bottom. But the siblings were incredibly different as well. Armin was the dreamer, and Valor was the realist. Armin lacked the brute strength, but made up for it with his brilliant ideas. His sister grew up protecting him- she'd learned early on how to improvise and throw a mean punch.

Valor had watched her baby brother grow up to dream of peace and life outside the walls. He was special; he was kind, and smarter than anyone else knew. All her life, Valor had made sure to protect her younger brother.

That's why she was going to join the Survey Corps- and no one was going to stop her.

She knew that if she didn't, Armin would have to. There would be no questions about it, and as much as she loved Armin, she wasn't blind. He was no soldier. He was just a boy, just a dreamer. He deserved to have a long life, not sacrifice his way of living to carry out a short military term to the hands of a Titan. No, Armin was the brains, and Valor was more than happy to be the brawn, if that kept him safe.

And she would do anything to keep him safe.

Valor stared out the small window in front of the kitchen sink, arms sunk to the elbows in soapy water. Her mother was busy clearing the table from lunch's mess, and her father sat idle by, reading a book. Her grandfather wasn't home, and neither was Armin, who was out with Eren, probably by the river or out in the field. They were an odd pair, but, Eren was nice enough, and he looked after Armin when Valor couldn't. She swallowed hard, trying to think of any way to break the news of her enlisting in the Cadet Corps without breaking her parents hearts.

"Well, Valor, you've waited long enough. Spit it out." Her father sighed, not looking up from his book. She froze, accidentally dropping the plate she had in her hand back into the soapy water below. She straightened, taking a deep breath. It's now or never.

She turned, looking at her father and pointedly not meeting her mothers eye. Her fathers eyes were still focused on the book in front of him, but she knew he was no longer reading. His fingers grasped at the corner of the page, ready to turn it, but he hadn't moved, and his eyes didn't follow along with the words in front of him. She attempted a smirk, but couldn't seem to change her frozen expression. "Sharp as ever, aren't you father?" She joked, but quickly looked to the floor at her fathers unimpressed expression. She scratched at the nape of her neck as he sighed, shutting his book.

     "No, you just have a shit poker face." He retaliated flatly.

     Her mother continued to stare, gaze as sharp as any blade used in the Scout regiment. Valor closed her eyes, mentally preparing for the reaction she was about to receive. Mother, please forgive me. "I enlisted this morning." She said quietly.

     The air went stale in the Arlert residence. Valor held onto the counter behind her with a white knuckle grip, eyes still tightly shut. She waited, nervously waiting for any sort of verbal reaction, but it didn't come. She opened her eyes, meeting her fathers empty gaze. She hesitantly looked over to her mother, who had turned to look opposite of Valor, as if she'd just been slapped.

     Valor took a deep breath, trying to shake the guilty feeling in her chest. "It's the most logical decision. The Scouts always need new recruits, and if I go, then Armin isn't obligated..." She trailed off as her father clenched his jaw, standing from where he was seated.

     "No daughter of mine will join the damned Scouts! It's a death wish, Valor!" He slammed his fist on the table in front of him, breathing heavily, as if he'd just had the wind knocked out of him.

     "And what if it is? At least none of you will have to suffer the same fate." She countered sharply, and her mothers gaze swiftly met her own.

     "This isn't the only way, Valor."

     "I'd do anything to protect Armin, mother. This is the only way to do that." She tried to speak calmly, but the quiver in her voice as she spoke her brothers name gave her away. She stood tall, long blonde hair falling to her waist and blue eyes glossy with unshed tears. She refused to cry. No more was she a little girl with tears in her eyes and fear in her heart. She was a woman, a soldier, willingly accepting the weight of her little world onto her small shoulders at sixteen. She was a woman, and she would be damned if she didn't act like one.

     The three sat in silence for a moment, and Valor ignored the ever so prominent tightness in her chest. All that she wanted was their approval. She was doing this for them, how could they not see? She looked back up at her father, blinking away any tears blurring her vision. "Please, don't make this any harder than it has to be. I can do this. I have to. But I can't without you both beside me." She looked between the two, swallowing away the emotions threatening to pour out of her.

     She heard her mother begin to weep, bringing her hands up to her cheeks to try and stop the flow of tears. Her father could barely meet her gaze, but he stepped closer toward her, and she held her ground. Chin tilted upward ever so slightly, she stared at her father, trying to scan his face for any hint of emotion.

And much to her surprise, he held out his hand. She stared at it for a moment before taking it, shaking it with a tight grip. He pulled her into a hug and she wrapped her arms around his neck tightly, biting the inside of her cheek. "Make us proud, Valor."

I promise.

At the darkest hour that same night, Valor woke Armin up and told him they were going on an adventure. He didn't ask any questions- he trusted his sister more than anyone in the world. Quietly, they slipped on their shoes and jackets, slipping out the front door seemingly unnoticed. Valor walked swiftly yet silently, disappearing into the shadows as if she'd been doing it her whole life. Armin followed hurriedly behind her, his short legs forcing him to jog to keep pace with her.

Before he knew it, they were in the middle of the field near the south side of the wall. The grass was slick and dewy, shining under the light of the full moon. The air was crisp and the world quiet around them, as if Valor and Armin were the only people in the world that were awake.

     Like they were the only people in the world.

     Valor sat down, Armin copying her and sitting right next to her. The older of the two pulled her legs toward her chest, careening her head back to gaze at the stars up above. They sat in silence for a while, enjoying the silent company much like they normally did. The two understood each other more than anyone else in the world; they knew what the other needed, what the other was thinking and feeling, maybe even before one knew themselves. Armin knew Valor had something to say, but he wouldn't press. She would tell him when she was ready. Until then, he'd enjoy her presence.

     Valor could feel Armin's suppressed curiosity, and silently thanked him for not asking. It was hard enough trying to find the words, and she knew it would only be harder with Armin staring into her eyes, pushing her to speak. Instead, she raised her hand, slowly, gracefully, her index finger pointing at the stars above.

     "A blanket of stars covers the whole world, you know. Even outside the walls." She spoke quietly, and Armin nodded, eyes sparkling.

     "Over the fields of sand and flaming water and even-"

     "The sea." She smiled softly, nodding as they spoke in sync. She sighed, looking over at her brother, tilting her head slightly. She needed to stay calm. If she was calm, Armin would be too. "One day, I'm gonna find the sea, and I'll bring you to it. I'll find it for you."

     "And Eren?" He asked, his youth shining in his eyes. No older than seven, and he thought the world of his sister. "I promised Eren we'd go to the sea together."

     "Yes, Armin. We'll all go together." Her gaze dropped to the grass in front of her before returning to Armin. "I enlisted, Armin. I leave for the Cadet Corp in three days, and after that, I hope to join the Scouts." She sighed, turning her head and looking in front of her. Armin looked down at his lap, swallowing. He didn't know how to feel. He knew his sister was capable, but he knew how dangerous the world was- especially with the Scouts. "I promised to find the sea for you, Armin. And with the Scouts, I'll do it. I'll find it and save the world so that one day, you can see it too."

     Armin tilted his head, gaze heavy as he looked at his sister. "You promise you'll come back?" She turned to meet his gaze, waiting for him to continue. "You'll come see me, and you won't get eaten by Titans, right?" He pressed, and Valor was silent for quite a few moments.

     She looked back at the sky above her, nodding ever so slightly. "Not before I find the sea," she swallowed hard, "I promise."