HOPE YOU ENJOY

PLEASE VOTE

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I feel like I've added a note over flare info in the past or in my other books but I can't seem to find it. I'm a bit forgetful and just wanted to note it down (Again) so I can try using the right colour flares whenever they're doing an expedition. Can't promise I'll use the colours all the time but I'll try my best. 

(I found this data from an online website that explained them all and I won't lie, I copied and pasted it. I didn't want to try re-wording anything and get it wrong by using the wrong words. I think the site is called Attack On Titan Wiki )

Flare Info:

Red - Titan spotted. (Used in order for the squad to avoid the Titans)

Black - Abnormal Titan spotted.

Purple - An emergency of some kind. (Someone is grabbed, etc.)

Blue - An order to retreat.

Green - Change direction of the formation. (Fired by the commander in one direction to indicate a change in the direction, and then repeated by the relay soldiers).

Yellow - This lets everyone know that the mission has been terminated, be it successfully or failed. 

Acoustic - While leading the Female Titan through the Titan Forest, Levi Ackerman used a special shell that emitted a high-pitched noise.

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The expedition began and everyone was in their given positions. Or at least close enough to the position they were given. Because as always, nothing stays perfectly and everyone has move around while listening to their orders. Watching out for all flares sent up before keeping an eye out for the ones sent out after Erwin orders are given out over their route change. 

Hanji and her squad was given the duty over protecting Captain Rory Barns. It was either her or Mike and his squad. Erwin left it to the two captains to figure out who'd be unlucky enough to be trapped with such a shitty job. Mike won the bet between him and Hanji over a few cadets actions during the party the night before. Meaning, Mike and his squad was happy doing their own duties that were nowhere near the Garrison Captain. 

Hanji and her squad wasn't having much of a great time with their protection duty during the expedition. While Levi and his squad on the other hand, was close by to the Commander as always and having no hand in the two squads bitter game of trying not to be on protection duty. 

Because Levi wasn't given the choice over where his squad was needed or was ever asked if he wanted a certain duty. Levi and his squad was simply ordered to be where they needed when they needed to be there. Meaning, Levi didn't even need to be near any form of protection duty involving the garrison captain. 

Of course, Levi was loving the fact that he didn't have to worry over being given the shitty tasks, well the open ones that he wasn't skilled for. He's done a lot of dirty business when needed but babysitting an asshole of a captain was not in his list of skills. He would have hated such orders and would done everything he could to not lose any bets or games between him, Hanji and Mike to make sure one of them took the mission instead. 

Meanwhile, Mikasa was happily working with team leader Dieter Ness. Armin, Eren and Jean were in the squad with her. Seems Sasha, Christa and Ymir were with team leader Luke Cis somewhere in the left front. Marco, Reiner and Bertholdt and Connie were with team leader  Darius Baer Walbrunn. 

Mikasa was rather enjoying herself with being apart of a squad with her friends, with those the same age as herself or close to it. She was stuck close to the middle centre, things weren't completely safe but safe enough and they mostly had to carry on sending flares after seeing other's in the distance. 

Or, it was going rather smoothly until they notice two soldiers up ahead. Riding a bit slow on their horses, almost just walking them along than actually riding them. The problem only growing when they noticed that one of the capes had the Garrison logo on, two red roses seen from miles away. 

"Shouldn't he be protected by Captain Hanji and her squad?" Armin spoke up with worry as he glanced towards Mikasa who was riding up beside him with Jean and Eren riding behind. 

"Where is Hanji?" Mikasa asked, his eyes scanning around for the crazed captain as her hands tightened on Storm reigns. 

"And the rest of her men" Dieter commented with slight fear in his eyes as he looked around for the rest of the squad. He knew Hanji and her captain wasn't anything like Levi but they weren't weak either. 

"Should we ride over and check if they're okay?" Jean asked, concern clear in his voice but horror was still creeping up his spine over thinking the worse happened. 

"Of course we should. Our regiment future is resting on that man shoulders. We can't let him be eaten" Eren snapped back as he glared towards Jean, knowing they couldn't just look the other way over such an issue at hand. 

"Well.." Mikasa started to say as she glanced to the side, wondering if they really couldn't just let the Garrison captain be eaten. 

"Mikasa!" Eren cried back in horror. 

"Can't we just send up a purple flare and let someone help step in to help" Mikasa argued back, giving a light shrug as she didn't see why they had to be the ones to help. She didn't like the captain and he clearly didn't like her back. 

"Mikasa. No" Armin scolded like a parent as he gave a disapproving look towards her. 

"But it's not like a titan is eating him right before us. I'm sure he'll be fine" Mikasa muttered back as she nodded her head over the two soldier's up ahead and showing there was no titan eating them as they speak. 

"As much as I'd love to follow the flare idea but Captain Hanji already gave me orders to step in if trouble came to us. Seemed our squad was put behind them as backup. Kirstein, Jaeger and Arlert I want you three to hang back. Keep a safe distance behind us and tail us until I give you the signal to ride over" Dieter finally spoke again, giving the news that none of them really wanted to hear. Passing on his orders towards the three males as he knew better than to let them all hurry over at once while not understanding the situation going on ahead. 

"Dieter" Mikasa voice filled the air as she simply spoke the team leader name. 

"Yes, Mikasa" Dieter asked as he kept his eyes focused on ahead of them. 

"I'm not going to enjoy the next set of orders you're going to speak .. am I?" Mikasa asked  quietly as she had a feeling over her next orders when he didn't mention her name with the rest. 

"Not at all" Dieter admitted with a weak smile and looking over his shoulder towards her. 

"Are you going to call me by my last name before that jerk. Will I be expected to call you by your last name" Mikasa replied, feeling uncomfortable over the mere thought over having to act like a simple soldier after all this time. 

"God no. I'd rather be trapped in the room next door to the one where Captain Levi is left scolding someone than have us both place along the rules. I've always been Dieter to you, always have been and always will be. Just like you'll be that little birdy who was brought to our camp. I still remember when you use to come over and help brush the horses when soldiers were on their days off or recovering from an injury" Dieter hurriedly blurted out and shivering at the mere thought of them both acting proper. Giving a giggly and proud uncle look as he remembered the first day he met Mikasa, only seeing her from a distance and than slowly having her limp into the horses stables, helping out without a word. He taught her a lot over the horses, letting her help take care of the horses that belonged to injured soldiers in recovery or those who had the day off. 

"And that's enough from you. I'll follow your lead with this" Mikasa huffed back quickly as she didn't want Dieter to start bringing up any embarrassing or cute stories from her past. 

"I knew speaking over our past will get you to help me with free will" Dieter grinned back as he might not be super strong but he held his own weapons to use. 

"Let's just ride over already before I find a titan mouth to leap into" Mikasa sighed and soon both she and Dieter was riding over to the other two, leaving the rest of their squad to follow safely behind. 

"He's like that auntie with all her cute stories that embarrass us once we're older" Jean commented as he and Eren rise up on either side of Armin, keeping them all in a single line. 

"And I thought he was the friendly soldier who acted like an older brother to us but he can be scary in his own way" Armin mumbled back in slight fear over the scary side that Dieter did hold. 

"Poor Mikasa. Even she's defenceless against this type of enemy" Eren admitted with a frown, feeling bad for Mikasa. 

Mikasa and Dieter soon reached the two soldiers up ahead and splitting up to ride on either side of the two. Trapping the two between them and able to help escort them a bit better if needed Mikasa glanced over the garrison captain, he held no injuries and still seemed as good as he was when they left the walls. A little pale and maybe frightened but alive. Dieter scanning over the other soldier, dressed with the survey corps logo on their cape and jacket.

"Harold?" Dieter asked as he leaned forward, staring at the man who he was certain was Harold but not overly sure. 

"Oh thank god it's you Ness" Harold cried back in relief over seeing a friendly face he could trust and rely on. 

"Where's the rest of your squad?" Dieter calmly asked as he kept Harold focused on him, his eyes doing a quick scan over him to look for any injures and finding none. 

"Protecting me. Just like you should be doing!" Rory snapped back making Dieter take his attention from Harold to the Garrison captain. 

"I hear hiding in a titan stomach will protect you from other titans trying to eat you" Mikasa muttered, acting innocent over her words when the other three turned their gaze towards her. 

"What did you say you little-" Rory started to scream back, glaring towards Mikasa and ready to make her pay for such words only to be stopped by Dieter speaking over him. 

"That's enough captain. Humour is always the best way to keep one distracted and calm. Right .. Mikasa" Dieter weakly smiled as he gave a hinting look towards Mikasa to follow his lead. 

"Yeah, it was a joke" Mikasa coldly replied, giving a tiny nod towards the garrison captain to show she was simply using humour to brighten the mood. 

"I'm so glad you're here Mikasa. I really needed a friendly face who can handle taking abuse from certain people" Harold admitted with a small smile, a pained look in his eyes as he's been stuck with the Garrison captain and his bad mouth for the longest without break. 

"Just tell us over the location for the rest of your squad" Mikasa calmly replied, knowing they needed to learn over the rest of his squad fate when they should have been together. 

"Captain and Moblit went up ahead to take down any titans that may be standing ahead after Captain Barns refused to go close to one. If he saw one in the distance than he'll refuse to go any further until it was taken down. We're meant to be avoiding them by turning away and only engaging if needed but .. captain Barns is making that difficult. He keep freezes up and barking out orders for us to attack each and every titan even if it's not in sight. Once the flares are sent up, he demands for some of us to ride out and take care of the titan before it has a chance to head in our direction" Harold rambled back as he passed on everything that had been happening since they left the walls and the meaning on while his squad members were so split up right now. 

"And so what happened to the rest of your squad?" Dieter asked as started counting names in his head, knowing another five to be mentioned. 

"Abel and Rashad had to ride off to take care of an titan some miles ago and haven't caught back up yet. My orders are to ride to the meeting point for all soldiers to gather during our half way point and where we can take a rest. Nifa was given orders to ride towards Commander Erwin to pass on the issue at hand with Captain Barns behaviour" Harold carried on with where another three had gone and why Nifa was on her own since she played messenger for them. 

"My behaviour? How dare you speak as if I'm in the wrong over all this. I am your superior and I will not be disrespected by the likes of you. I will be speaking with your commander over th-" Rory started to yell out in outrage over the attitude and how Harold was making him sound. 

"Oh shut up. We're in the middle of an expedition and you're endangering lives. Threaten us as much as you wish by using your rank but that's the only power you hold. You've got no skill or strength outside of your rank. For god shake, you couldn't even ride past a titan without pissing your pants. So, let us real soldiers save your fucking ass in peace by shutting up" Mikasa hissed out, glaring down at  the captain and daring him to speak over them again. 

"Glad you're keeping friendly and unnerved by him" Dieter sighed as he rolled his eyes over the youngest out of the four of them. 

"Keiji and Lauda was sent towards a flare single to our left just a few minutes before you both came over. My orders are to get the captain to the meet up point and await for my squad to gather there" Harold finished up and passed on his own orders given to him. 

"We'll help escort you to the meeting point" Dieter promised with a kind smile. 

"Thank you" Harold smiled back, glad to have some backup with him and help over dealing with Rory. 

"No wonder Levi was glad to not have such a headache. I would have jumped into a titan mouth by now" Mikasa grumbled under her breath, wishing she was elsewhere than having to help the Garrison captain survive. 

"What was that?" Rory asked with a low growl, expecting her to be saying something bitter over him. 

"Just repeating the coordinates that stand as the planned meeting spot" Mikasa casually lied as she lifted her gaze to the white cloudy sky above. 

"A fifteen meter behind us, Ness" Jean voiced echo from behind them and earning them all to look over their shoulders over the titan. It was still far away from them to safely ride away from without having to advantage. 

"Oh great, we've got more unwelcomed company" Mikasa bitterly commented as she glanced towards the Garrison captain. 

"Play nice" Dieter mouthed back as he caught her gaze. 

"Kill it! Send your men to keep it away and buy me time to gain some better distance. That's an order. I order you to distract it god damnit!" Rory cried back, his fear overcoming him once again making the rest frown. 

"You want us to distract a man eating titan?" Mikasa deadpanned, looking at Rory like he was a huge idiot. 

"Yes!" Rory huffed back. 

"A titan that isn't an abnormal and you want us to distract it. Like with a card game or something?" Harold asked with a bit of sass as the captain clearly held no clue over dealing with a titan like this. 

"Don't you start with the sass" Dieter scolded back as he was hoping for Harold to act his age better. 

"I don't care how you do it. Just keep it far away for me. For god shake, take it dancing if you must. Just protect me from it" Rory snapped back, glaring down at Harold and Dieter, expecting them to take care of the titan already. 

"Mikasa will you please take care of the upcoming titan" Dieter asked nicely as he looked to the young women. 

"Should I do the waltz?" Mikasa asked with a straight face but the humours shine flashes in her eyes.  

"Stop using that mouth of yours or I'll make sure you regret. For such cheek I'd expect you to take care of the titan without the need of a horse. See how your confidence last without any speed to back you up. Heck, I'm certain you can do the salsa"  Rory snarled back as he raised his hand, ready to smack her only to stop last minute as Mikasa made direct eye contact with him, almost daring for him to lay a hand on her. 

"As you wish. Dieter can I take Armin with me?" Mikasa smirked back, glancing towards her team leader. 

"Arlert, accompany mikasa" Dieter ordered out over his shoulder. 

"Me?" Armin squeaked back. 

"That's your name is it not?" Dieter replied with a raised eyebrow and wondering how the lad survived this long. 

"R-Right sir" Armin weakly mumbled back before riding out with Mikasa towards the titan. 

Twenty Minutes Later...

"And what did you do?" Levi asked with a raised eyebrow, his arms tightly crossed over his chest as he stood with his back to his horse in the safe point. Already being told he had to have a discussion with her over her actions and wanting to hear her actions straight from her own mouth. 

"I slowed my horse until it stopped and made Armin do the same" Mikasa replied as if it wasn't very important. 

"And?" Levi pushed on, knowing there's more to the story. 

"I hopped off my horse before helping Armin of his own while the titan stayed heading towards us" Mikasa carried on, standing at attention as she was meant to be getting scolded right now while all the other soldiers sat or stood resting close by. 

"What did you do afterwards?" Levi asked, nodding his head for her to carry on with the true story. 

"I twirled Armin and danced with him for a bit" Mikasa admitted in a small voice, glancing to the side as she wasn't sure how he'd react over such a thing. 

"You danced before a titan" Levi repeated, biting down a laugh as he knew he had to stand professional right now. 

"I was told too" Mikasa argued back in her defence. 

"What happened with the titan" Levi asked next, wanting to make sure no one got hurt. 

"Once he was in reach and trying to grab at us, I used my gear and sliced the nape. We both got back onto her horses and caught up with the rest" Mikasa answered with ease as she made sure to take it down before it could harm anyone else in the future. 

"I can't believe I missed that" Levi muttered out, shaking his head and wishing he was the squad left protecting the asshole now. 

"It seemed like a good idea at the time. It kept the jerk quiet for the rest of the ride here" Mikasa admitted with a slight shrug before resting her left hand on her hip.  

"I'm meant to be furious with your behaviour and should be punishing you" Levi replied as he glanced down to her relaxed stance. 

"I'll accept my punishment" Mikasa replied with a small smile, not regretting what she did. 

"I'm not going to punish you when I think it was bloody brilliant. But since my relaxing face is a scowl and yours is unreadable, pretend that I am telling you off right now. If anyone asks, you were scolded. Because I should be thanking you for making my day so much better with this story" Levi whispered back as he stood tall and seemed a bit menacing, nodding for Mikasa to stand at attention again and act like she was being told off. 

"Glad you're finding it amusing" Mikasa whispered back as she looked like she was receiving a good old scolding. 

"How did Armin take it?" Levi asked, uncrossing his arms and waving his finger at her like he was scolding her full on parent like. 

"He was completely terrified but once I reassured him that I wasn't going to let him be eaten, he calmed down. Even let me dip him before the titan reached us" Mikasa answered with ease as she lowered her head, pretending to be annoyed with Levi. 

"And how did Dieter react" Levi asked neck as he placed his hands on his hips, acting as if he's reached the end of his scolding and just felt tired. 

"He was laughing his head off with Harold the whole time" Mikasa smirked back, lifting her head. 

"Glad to hear they enjoyed the show as well" Levi smirked back before patting Mikasa arm. 
 

Meanwhile..

"He'd didn't tell her off" Mike said from where he stood by his own horse, watching Levi and Mikasa small show. 

"Of course he didn't" Hanji snorted back as it was obvious that Levi wouldn't tell Mikasa off for her earlier actions. 

"He wasn't meant to be punishing her. Captain Barns is a guest to us and we've got to treat him well" Erwin sighed as he pinched the tip of his nose, feeling a headache forming. 

"I think Mikasa was well behaved towards such a bastard. Levi didn't even punch the guy. I call that as a win" Hanji argued back with a bright smile, waving her hands about a little. 

"I think we all would like to do so much towards that captain and will those two keeping their hands of him. I think that's the best win we can hope for. Plus, if the guy tries picking a fight we'll simply remind him over shitting himself during this expedition when he brags over being the best" Mike added on with his own thoughts and grinning a little over the Garrison Captain scared state. 

"Good thinking. We hold embarrassing blackmail against him now. Let the two know that they can be as ruthless as they want from now on" Erwin smiled, nodding for the two captains to pass on such good news to the other two.