Year 844; Underground Mission; Hope Pyxis

Most think repulsive when they are brought to the underground, especially after walking through the stohess district. I, on the other hand, was content. My background was beyond neat and manicured, which is why I think I relished in the dirt. It was fun and new. Yes it was looked at as a lack of pride or money but I just saw it as it is. Dirt.

To keep alert, and suspicion down, we kept our capes and jackets off. Even when we were easily in the underground, past the staircase, we stayed bare and made our way to our "hotel". Everything was pretty tattered and we were only placed there for a few hours, but all the same, people still complained.

"Erwin, I understand the mission but why are we using our best soldiers? Is there a possibility of death?" I sarcastically voiced to him as we stood in the mucky room.

"Hope. Just do the mission. You know you have the most important job after this follows through," he stated matter of factually.

"Why are you so sure it will go through?" I crossed my arms, leaning my body against the table as my jacket tugged slightly in the back.

"Just put your damn cape on," he flung the green fabric at me, it falling over my head, as I produced a scoff towards him.

We stood in the crummy rooms for seemingly hours until Erwin got the signal. That signal came in the form of a military police officer at the window.

Jumping out after him we tugged our hoods up and began the chase. It took a couple of blocks until we saw the three jacket-less figures flying past buildings.

One male seemed stoic and smooth with his movements whereas the female, red hair flying against her face, was all over the place. She was graceful, sure, but all over still not very fluid with how she moved. Lastly there was a guy who seemed set behind the other two. He also had an attitude that seemed the halfway point of the other two.

I was stationed slightly behind Erwin, instructed to follow the redhead, as we moved along. Almost instantly on our pursuit the three split into different directions.

Slowing down and clicking my wires to the left I followed closely behind the red head along with a soldier assisting me. I didn't know his name but I knew we worked together a few times prior. She certainly was skilled when it came to maneuvering between buildings and making her way upon roofs but I knew the trick to speed.

Swinging down, my legs bending upwards and back, I tugged the wires and swung up. My projections soon got me dropping down almost right in front of her. Keeping to the side though I spun forward, my blades turned out, and snapped her wires. I then clicked along and before she could hit anything I grabbed her and chucked us down to the ground, handcuffs coming out of my back pocket.

She was feisty and certainly put up an aggravating act. I tugged her along to the square opening, her companion soon joining our side. When we did make it to the square we found the third guy, hair as black as the ceiling, in a stand still with a hood-less Erwin. I watched as the dagger slipped from the males grasp and dropped into the mud covered ground. So far the mission had almost, or in every way, had gone exactly like Erwin told me it would.

Time to wait for the deciding decision. The only problem was the supposed leader just seemed to be snarky towards Erwin, which in the end, was pissing me off. So when my fellow soldier shoved his face into the dirt, a smirk easily grew on my face.

Finally the words came out of the smug shorty's mouth that Erwin was certain of. He was joining the survey corps so now began my main assignment. I had to watch the pipsqueak and his kids, then give Erwin reports.

Back up, out of the underground, we stuffed the newbies into the cage carts and I placed myself in the front wagon that held Erwin. I plopped down and crossed my arms along with laying one leg over the other.

"Come on don't give me that attitude," Erwin's voice chuckled, leading me to turn and glare at him.

"I'm spying on a cocky shortcake like a babysitter. I'm allowed to give you all the attitude I want," I was tempted to spit at him. Instead I just turned my attention out the window at my hometown. I could barely count how many years it had been since I made my choice to leave the nobility life. I was almost certain my mother felt disgraced. She was probably still content sitting in her chair, stuffing her face with such easily accessible food as the soldiers ate off rations each day.

"Just tell me if they get together or go somewhere suspicious. It isn't as much work as you believe it to be," he sighed and broke me out of my flashbacks.

In defeat I uncrossed my legs and arms, then leaned forward towards Erwin, elbows on knees and head in hands. "You owe me triangle," I smiled at him as a small grin formed on his face as well.

The rest of the ride was in peaceful silence. We made our way back to our headquarters that sat in wall Rose. 

Year 828; 82nd Trainee Squad

My hands shook as it was placed over my heart, fist form, thumb out. A very intimidating male, hairless and tall, walked down the rows. My ears were cringing with how much he was screaming at each trainee.

It was known by now that he was picking certain trainees, but it also seemed that I was going to be chosen causing me to shake more in my boots. He stepped down, now beginning on my row, his shoulders tugged back as he stared us down.

Then the moment came, we made eye contact and my heart stopped beating. His feet clicked twice and now he stood in front of me, jacket at eye level, my hair swaying in the burning breeze. (Not Keith Shadis, who comes in in year 844 after the wall collapses)

"Name and Origin Cadet!" his voice boomed in my ears.

"H-Hope Pyxis of the Stohess District!" I screamed at him and almost sobbed as he seemed to stare at me, no emotion crossing his face.

"Your father is well known in the Military police," he snarled and then smirked, an evil glint shining in his eyes. "Why are you here!" his voice boomed again, returning to his overused volume, sending the shaking to a new intensity.

"To make a difference!" My voice attempted to boom back at him.

"That's great. Then we'll go jump through a field of daisies!" He leaned towards me, spit flying onto my face as I cringed away.

"Your ideals are not important! Orders are your existence! Now get on your knees and kiss my boots," his voice screamed, my eyes now flinging open.

"Excuse me?"

"Now cadet!" the glint of his eyes increased as each second passed.

I wanted to cry as I dropped to my knees, my bones shaking all over, as I slowly let my dignity disappear. My hands found the ground next to his feet and I shuffled forward and let my lips touch his dirt covered boots.

I kept going even as chuckling sounded all around. Tears finally began to flow out of my eyes.

"Line 5 at ease!" his voice screamed and then his boots were gone.

I couldn't look up as I stood and turned to face back towards the other line. My hands were shaking and numb, the blood in my veins rushing everywhere else but the areas I needed it.

When the bell finally rang to signal dinner I was more than eager to go fill up as much as allowed. I wasn't looking to make friends so when I got my tray I situated myself in the farthest corner and slowly ate it.

I heard chatter and laughter all around me but I could only feel emptiness. I rethought the happenings of earlier and what I should get out of the lessons. There's a reason for training us the way we do but it was still very destructive to any type of emotion.

I was so immersed in the flashbacks that I didn't notice when a body slipped in next to me. Only when he tapped me on the shoulder did I finally snap out and turn to him. My eyes focused as I took in his dirty blonde wavy hair and green shaggy t-shirt.

"Huh?" I blinked a few times hoping to remember if he said something to me.

"I said my name is Oliver Lang. You're Hope right?" he stuck out his hand towards me and I finally caught on, taking his hand in mine.

"Yeah Hope Pyxis. Nice to meet you."

"You were the one who had to kiss the instructor's boots right?" he snickered at me, his body slightly turned.

"Yeah sadly. I'm still trying to rack my brain over what happened and why."

"You don't know why?" his features softened as his mouth opened in shock.

"No idea," I shrugged lightly, shoving a bite of bread into my mouth.

"It's because of your father," he indicated watching me.

"My father? What does he have to do with it?" my eyebrows furrowed at his accusation.

"You're practically nobility. You have a high class underneath your name."

"Okay?"

"He wants to disintegrate that title," he stated again and that's when my eyes widened in realization.

I stared at my hands now, rage boiling in my veins every time I thought of him. The absence of him had formed an intense dislike over the years, and the positive statements about him just made it worse.

"You don't like your father, do you?" he said hesitantly as I turned back to him.

"Not one bit," and that was how Oliver and I began our marvelous friendship. Just kidding, he soon realized I'm a short talker that doesn't communicate unless the conversation includes training.