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Question: Okay, I know I called Mikasa horse as "Storm" but if anyone has any smart, funny or just cute names for Mikasa horse than please do comment so. I'll be happy to change it, even if it's something that goes with Levi horse "Cuppa". So, yeah, just comment any names that you'd think would go better or be more funny. I did think over calling Levi horse as Tea again and doing another couple nickname but I thought against it since I didn't want to use the same joke.

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Mikasa was fifteen, she's been fifteen for some time now.

Signed up as a full fledged loyal soldier, giving her hearts to humanity.

She's been on her first expedition, she wasn't as bad as most fresh cadets would be outside the walls for the first time, she wasn't better than a pro either. She was just, okay, and that was best.

Her first time outside the walls weren't meant to be a wake up call, it was just her testing grounds on seeing if she could truly handle the turf of the titans, and she passed.

She was still glued by Levi side, sticking with his squad during her first expedition, she would have argued against it but she knew better than to fight over such a small detail. She knew what Levi was scared off and she didn't want his fear coming true so soon, so she was a flea hitchhiking with his pack for the day.

She took down a titan, rather proud of it at the time and by doing it herself.

She noticed Levi slight proud look in his eyes when she came riding back towards him, she was rather sure Storm was even trotting a little prouder back to Levi squad at the time too. 

But now, it's been a good five minutes and she's been on a total of five expeditions, one each month. During her second she was stuck with Hanji squad and on the third expedition she was given to Mike squad but the two captains were a little more free will with her doing her own thing as long as she kept to her orders and stayed safe. 

Well, as safe as one could be outside the walls. 

Her last two expeditions she's been solo and less protected, mostly because she started gaining rumours over her skills and Erwin wanted her to be able to spread her wings without her praises being given towards the captains instead. 

And it worked, she was now rumoured to be the soldier worth a hundred soldiers. 

She held a little bit of pride when she first heard the rumour, overjoyed in fact since it meant other's was seeing her talents and hard work. She was being recognized and proving where she belonged in the world. 

Of course, her face never once showed how pleased she actually was. It stayed cold and unreadable. Her emotions only ever truly leaking out whenever Levi was close and they were alone, she didn't mind but she knew she spooked some soldiers with her dark air sometimes. 

But for now, it's been a single week since the last expedition and the fresh cadets from 104th would being joining up rather soon, in just five days. In four, Erwin and the captains would leave to give their big and powerful speech towards all new cadets and leave for them all to think over the commander words. 

Of course, Mikasa knew not many would join, Survey Corps death rate wasn't the lowest after all but it still held some fame and love. A small handful of soldiers would sign up and Mikasa at least knew two of the soldiers that would be joining up.

She was worried for them but looked forward in working beside them as full fledge soldiers not just teens in training while being soldiers wannabes. 

For now, she just had to carry on her duties, her training and carry on with her daily life as a soldier.

She did somehow loop Erwin into giving the less filthy barracks to any 104th cadets since they'd be stuck sharing barracks with older soldiers but still, Mikasa helped gain the better barracks for them. Acting innocent as Levi noticed the slight change in where the new cadets would be sleeping. 

Hanji did offer after hearing that Mikasa only friends would be joining to let them join Squad Levi and let them live in the castle spare rooms. But a silent death stare told her that was a CLEAR no by Levi. Mikasa wasn't even dumb enough to think of such a suggestion but she had to respect Hanji clueless free spirit sometimes.

While she may wear mostly the same clothes she's been wearing most of her time in camp, she's finally gained her own cape and jacket with the SC logo on them. She loves them, she felt a little lighter and more powerful when wearing the logo.

She wasn't how to explain it, she would say that she felt freer but at the same time, she didn't.

She just felt ... happier, maybe.

Levi understood, he didn't give her the word either but he understood how she felt and gave her hair a ruffle.

It wasn't the same as it use to be, not since she's cut her hair shoulder. Just above her shoulders, reaching her chin now, it was a choice she made.

A choice she made because she wanted to be respected and seemed strong.

She knew she couldn't keep her hair down when fighting titans and needed to fight a way to keep it out of her face. She wasn't able to do high and neat pony tails like some girls could. Buns failed her, Carla tried helping but they just feel out seconds afterwards. She thought about a plat but the lose strands on the side just made her look mad, same when she went for the basic pony tail she could do, she'd look a little crazy.

She thought about braids but she'd look a little childish with them and so the low pig tails didn't suit her as well as leaving her hair down.

So, for the same of her pride and honour, she cut her hair short.

The rest just thought she was growing up or having a teen mid life crisis and she was happy to go with that lie.

She wasn't normally one who cared over looks but she did want to seem powerful as a soldier and not some young brat they had to babysit.

And well, her new hairstyle worked out rather well in her eyes. 

Levi was a master at cutting hair, she thought he could just trim hair since he use to just give her a trim but no, he held skills at cutting hair. 

She was impressed.