HOPE YOU ENJOY

PLEASE VOTE

*****************************************

Mikasa had finished her patrol around the camp with Mike, heading off to see if she was needed by Hanji or if Levi squad wanted a hand with their duties otherwise she'd be mostly free for the next few hours. 

Not seeing as a group of fresh cadets was walking away, dressed in their new uniforms and having the rest of the day free to settle in the camp. 

Of course, Mikasa was in her white uniform, jacket, boots and straps but her cape was left on a hook in Levi office. She was smart enough to bring it with her to camp in case the weather turned bad but she didn't wear that often unless it was raining or they were out on an expedition. Levi was the same in that sense, maybe that's where she got her cape habit from. But she just found it a pain to wear all day, it just got too warm or in the way of her arms when she tried carrying crakes.

Of course why she was still a new soldier even while gaining some frame, she didn't always look like a fresh soldier out of the training corps. She held an air to her that normally kept other's back and made her seem like a pro.

But her red scarf would always make anyone and everyone easily spot her and that's what happened with her friends.  

"Mikasa!" Armin sweet and kind voice filled the air, his arm stretched in the air as he waved towards her. 

Mikasa came to a stop on the path she was using, turning towards the group and giving a small nod in greeting before making her way towards them. It has been some time since she's seen them face to face. She never did go on that picnic with them after all and she was on duty during their celebration party at a pub. 

"No way! Mikasa, you look like the real deal"  Eren grinned from ear to ear, his eyes friendly and shining as they've all done since she first met him. His hands on his hips as he looked her over, it being a first in them seeing her stand a soldier as well making them give a nod of approval. 

"I would brag over my titan kill count but I'm sure the uniform speaks enough for me" Mikasa replied, her face straight but her friends sure her teasing spark in her eyes making them laugh. 

"It's good to see you, mikasa. We wondered if we'll be able to see you today or if we'd have to pray to share duties together. But I'm so glad I noticed you passing. As much as I loved our weekly letters, I did miss seeing you in person" Armin smiled brightly, grabbing hold of Mikasa arm and pulling on it before she pulled him into a friendly hug. She did miss him as much as he clearly missed her. She's felt bad putting her training and duties before them but it was needed and thankfully they understood it, even if it was hard on all three of them. 

"Well, we've made it. We're finally living our live as part of the Survey crops. Isn't this great, we're living our dream" Eren commented, wrapping his arms around both Mikasa and Armin for a group hug, most squishing Armin who was wedged between his taller friends. 

"I'm sure you'll both make a place for yourself here, we need men like you. Plus, it be nice to fight beside my own friends instead of the captains who still treat me like a niece or sister" Mikasa replied, breaking the hug as Armin started to turn a little blue making her give him a worried pat on the head. 

"What squad are you with?" Mikasa asked as he turned her head towards Eren, noticing him glance away with a frown before she looked towards Armin who gave a small smile. 

"Well, we've just left from meeting with Luke Cis. He gave us our capes after we met Dieter Ness" Armin explained, showing that they'd be given the names of those they'd be following under during their first expedition and who'd be over looking their training before hand. 

"Have you met Charrette?" Mikasa asked, hiding her amusement with her great poker face as she knew the horse normally got a mouthful of new recruits hair or scared them a little at least. 

"The horse who eats hair?" Eren asked with a raised eyebrow since he wasn't paying much attention at the time. 

"You've met his beloved Charrette" Mikasa answered her own question as Armin gave a small giggle. 

"What squad are you with? I want to know if we'll be in the same squad" Eren asked with a hopeful sparkle in his eyes, grabbing at Mikasa arm as if he was an excited child all over again. 

"That's a difficult question since I'm not under one squad. I ride out with either Hanji or Mike squads before separating from them. I ride from one squad to the other, depends who'll need the extra manpower" Mikasa explained with a deeper frown as she was technically squad-less still. Erwin did plan to let her join under a squad during the first few months but with her slight power boost compared to other's he wanted her where she'd be useful. But he also knew he couldn't just place her in Captain Mike or Captain Levi squad without other's thinking she was being favoured by the commander or captain. Captain Hanji was a no go as well due to Mikasa not being a good fit for Hanji more brainy squad. She was still waiting to placed in a squad, she didn't mind following someone else's orders as she wasn't ready to be a leader or captain yet and happy being a basic soldier. But no one's squad seemed suited for her just yet leaving her to move around during an expedition.

"Jean, Reiner, Christa and I will be under squad leader Dieter Ness" Armin replied with a small nervous smile, scratching the back of his head as he liked Dieter from their small greeting with the man but he was still a little frightened over the new chapter of his life. 

"Sasha, Berthold and Ymir are under squad leader Darius Baer Walbrunn" Eren added on, nodding over his shoulder to where the others were awkwardly standing. Some remembered Mikasa front her visits in the first two years. Other's mostly know her by Eren and Armin talking about her whenever gaining a new letter. 

"Eren, what squad are you under?" Mikasa asked as she turned to Eren, placing a hand on her hip as she knew he was advoiding the question making her worry a little. She knew he was hoping to be placed in a well known squad or work with more of the famous soldiers but fresh cadets weren't placed where it was dangerous. Not during their first expedition meaning the bad news of not being given a squad leader he wanted was clear to come. 

"Marco, Connie and I are under a squad leader called Dirk but none of us have met him yet" Eren sighed, crossing his arms over his chest as doesn't even know his squad leader and was disappointed to not be placed in a squad he'd prefer or at least close to Armin. 

"He's a good squad leader, he's helped a lot of fresh cadets like you. He gives out good tips and is rather realistic. Some might call him grumpy or stern but he's a good man, a better soldier. He's one of the oldest who's survived this long, listen to his tips. Same for Mr Ness and Mr Wlbrunn. They've both got some experience on their shoulders and face much worse than we'd ever face thanks to training, equipment and plans being improved over the years since when they first signed up. They'll give you needed advice, teach you the best way to survive during an expedition and look out for you too. Listen to them, they'll help you see another day" Mikasa advised, placing a hand on each of her friends shoulders in hopes of comforting any unease they might hold. Speaking a little louder knowing the rest of the group could hear and was hoping they'd calm down as well, even just a little. 

"I'm christa, I don't think we met very well during your visits but it feels like you spent every day with us anyway. Armin and Eren talked about you a lot, filled us in on your own improvements as well" Christa smiled sweetly, stepping forward and offering a hand out to Mikasa. 

"I remember you and I must thank you for looking after my friends and their friends so well. I hear your a bit of an angel that cared for all during training. You helped keep the peace too sometimes, that's a rather good skill to have. As well as Marco always keeping everyone spirits up, that's a good charm to have as well. You both took great care over 104th and I'm glad to be able to meet you both in person again. The camp needs our angels when most soldiers only carry their demons" Mikasa shook Christa hand without a second hand, offering a nod to March who gave a shy but happy smile in return. 

"Do you still hit as hard as you can throw a man?" Reiner asked with a grin, stepping forward as he looked forward to being able to train with Mikasa once again. 

"I've grown stronger but I do know how to hold back for those who can't keep up" Mikasa slyly shot back, crossing her arms over her stomach as she turned to Reiner who soon burst out laughing. 

"Do you still remember us so well?" Bertholdt asked surprised, standing a little behind his shorter friend like he always did. 

"Yes, it's good to see you again Bertholdt or Bert as you were calling yourself during our last meeting. Please, let me know if anything has changed since for any of you. I'll rather call you as you wish and carry on keeping a growing bond between us. I hope to be able to get along with all of you once more" Mikasa muttered out, her arms falling to her side as the others smiled. 

"Well, Christa and I like to go as Mrs and Mrs Lenz" Ymir smirked slyly as she slipped an arm around Christa shoulders earning the shorter blonde to slap her arm off her. 

"We do not! Stop telling everyone we're married when we're not" Christa huffed out while Ymir just laughed. 

"Wow, so it's really you Mikasa. You look so different from our last day of training together and you talk way more than I remember. I still remember you as a mute. When did you stop being a mute? Meh, who cares, now we can eat meals together and catch up as much as good friends do" Sasha smiled brightly, leaping towards Mikasa and wrapping her arms around her like they have had been best friends all of their lives. 

"Well, I don't live within the barracks on camp but I can't say where my room is either. But, I'll plan to eat lunch with you all at least. I can't promise the other meals unless Petra on cooking duty again" Mikasa mumbled back, ruffling Sasha hair a little before the potato girl released her happily to gain at least one meal with her. 

"Heh, you kinda sound like a secret soldier or something. But how do you work around the camp if you've got no squad or barrack?" Connie joked a little before tapping his chin in confusion while Mikasa thought over how the best way to answer him was. 

Thankfully she was saved by a passing Captain who was a in a bit of a rush. He whistled out to her making them all turn their heads towards him before he waved his hand for her to follow. Nodding his head in the direction where Hanji was meant to be starting one of her expeditions in a few hours making it clear that setting up has gone wrong or the crazy captain had tried experimenting early, ignoring the stated time given to her to experiment during.

"If you'll excuse me" Mikasa quickly muttered before jogging towards Mike before the two just sprinted off without much warning leaving the group to blankly stare at where they once stood. 

"I wondered what was happening? I hope Mikasa will be okay" Armin spoke up like a worried mother, a hand held to his chest as he looked towards the spot they last saw Mikasa retreating back. 

"I'm sure she'll be fine. Mikasa is rather strong and knows how to avoid danger" Marco spoke up, giving an encourage smile towards the worried blonde. 

"Plus, she's use to the life of a soldier with the survey corps. This is her daily life, I'm sure we'll get use to all this as well soon. And, don't forget she's going to try eat lunch with us everyday meaning we can just ask if she's okay or check that's everything is okay when we see her again" Jean added on with a friendly smile, patting Armin back to help calm his sorter friend down. 

"Damn, Mikasa is so lucky. She get's to team up with Captain Mike so freely like that. And, she's got a room outside of the camp, she's clearly in a secret squad or something .. right? She's hit the big guns and we're still stuck as newbies on camp" Eren whined like a child as the rest just rolled their eyes over his jealous side leaked out. 

"I'm rather certain Mikasa isn't with a squad, she told us she wasn't. Mikasa isn't a lair after all. If there's bit of information she can't tell us than she'd change the topic or openly say she can't tell us" Connie spoke up as he scratched his cheek a little. 

"Maybe she lives in a small house or soldiers shared home outside the camp. She mentioned a Petra being on food duty. Maybe because she was still young, she was put in a safer spot outside the camp where fellow soldiers could give a growing child what she needed" Sasha mumbled out her own idea over the matter, the rest just shrugging as they didn't really care over why Mikasa wasn't in a camp barracks. After all, not all soldiers did sleep on camp. Some still lived with their families or on makeshift cabins not far off camp, keeping them close to where they work but also stopping them from going camp mad. 

"But Mikasa has been living with Capt- That's is! Petra, she's one of Captain Levi squad members. She's the only female in the squad and some rumours spoke over the captain holding a sweet spot for her. Apparently Petra also has a huge crush on the captain, the town's people have heard over her fellow squad members teasing her over it before they ride out of the gates for an expeditions. Mikasa must be living wi- murf" Eren started to say before the thought hit him and he started to ramble out like the fanboy he was before connecting the small dots and only being stopped as Armin covered his mouth. 

"Shh. Mikasa didn't want other's to learn over who took her in or who she lived with. And, if she's not told us where off camp she's living it means it's a kept secret. Don't blow anything" Armin worriedly whispered as Eren eyes widen in relation before nodding in understanding. 

"Anyone else noticed she didn't ask about Annie? Didn't those two have a rivalry or something?" Ymir commented as the other's all turned towards her.

"Nah, Mikasa and Annie are more alike than we thought. They have a hate-love relationship of friendship. Plus, the two girls wrote to each other once a month. I know, I read Annie diary whenever she went on her evening jogs" Bertholdt answered with a small smile, glancing around to make sure Annie wouldn't suddenly appeared.

"That's why you always visit the girls barracks at night, you were reading her diary and not just trying to smell her clothes" Sasha muttered back as everything made much better sense now.

"Annie has a diary?" Reiner asked in shocked and all the girls along with Bertholdt all nodded to show it was true. 

"And Annie became pen pals with Mikasa?" Connie asked in surprise as the girls, Marco and Bertholdt nodded in agreement. 

"It's still a hate-love friendship going on. They'd save each other from a fight just to kill the other instead. But, they have similar hobbies as in seeing the rest of the world as idiots most of the time" Marco replied with a smile as Reiner and Connie just took that in. 

"Wow, and Annie never told us" Eren mumbled out, not believing his own ears. 

"They also share training techniques. That was mostly what they wrote about in their letters and kinda encouraging the other to train harder. Fitness rivalry is what they hold, helping each other get better without meeting face to face"  Jean added as Marco already passed on the gossip to him. 

"I think we should stop talking about this topic before either of the girls pop up out of nowhere and kills most of us" Armin nervously smiled, glancing around to make sure neither was going to jump out from nowhere.