Juniper's back was arched as she stretched, murmuring to her horse, Channey. She didn't know what to expect out of today, but she was looking forward to it regardless. Lowering her arms, Juniper catches glimpse of imprints of a teeth bite on the edge of her palm. Familiar green-eyes echo through Juniper's mind. Her heart beats to a set tone, fierceness and determination rising through Juniper's body. She was going to succeed today.

      "Juniper," Erwin greets, welcoming Juniper into a room she didn't even know existed within the headquarters. It was a couple of nights before the expedition. Juniper smiles and glances around the room, looking into the shadows for a certain Captain. "Where's Levi?" She asks the commander, taking a seat across from him as he sat in front of the fire heating up the room.

      Erwin was staring deeply into the fire, his eyebrows were furrowed, matching his intense look. Shifting in the seat across from him, Juniper finds a comfortable spot. She waits patiently, knowing everything would make sense soon. "I didn't need him here," Erwin responds, his deep, guttural voice laced with distraction.

       Finally, he looks at Juniper. "Do you truly believe the coming expedition is a test run for the retaking of Wall Maria?"

       Juniper does her best to smile convincingly, "do you want me to lie?"

      "No."

       "I never believed it. Not even for a second, you always have a double meaning to everything you do, Erwin."

        Erwin leans back in his deep red armchair, sighing heavily, "you know, June, I never expected this would happen."

       "What would happen?" Juniper asks, confusion lacing her voice.

       Erwin sits forward, elbows digging into his thighs as Erwin rests his head on his closed hands. "Eren," he answers, "I didn't expect Eren would happen."

       Juniper titters softly, "I don't think anyone expected Eren, Erwin."

       A new presence enters Erwin's tired worrisome, face. A frown. His frown was deep and distraught, his frown was built with memories of the fallen; memories of promises he hasn't been able to keep.

        "Hey," Juniper softly says, shifting to the edge of her armchair, stretching her arm out, and placing her hand over Erwin's, "this isn't a setback——you know that, right? Eren has a power capable of earning our country's freedom. He'll have statues erected all throughout the Walls to commemorate him. He'll probably be renamed 'Savior Eren,' or some shit like that."

         A small and quick smile slides across Erwin's face, and then the frown sets back down. "We're creeping up on extinction, June. So tell me, is this idea——this slaughter worth it?"

        Juniper retracts her arm, settling back comfortably in her armchair, her bottom lip was caught between her teeth. "What is worth anything these days, Erwin? At this point, we're recklessly risking our lives, but for what? What is out there? Why are we risking our own lives? Is it for freedom? For hope? For personal gain? I don't know if anything we do these days, is worth it."

        Erwin's stare goes into Juniper's soul and beyond. He smiles lightly which is soon joined by a chuckle and his posture straightens. Juniper smiles back and crosses her legs, "Erwin, it's up to you, I can't make any decisions for you, but I can say this; if we have a chance, we should take it."

        "Your resilience is astounding, June." Erwin comments.

       "Thank you, comrade," Juniper says in a teasing tone.

        Erwin's laugh reverberates around the room, the room warming up.

        "So, Erwin, why am I here?" Juniper asks bluntly.

        "I'm using Eren as bait," Erwin responds, just as bluntly.

        Juniper smirks and runs a hand through her short hair that, for once, wasn't in pigtails. "I knew it. I've always known it. Why are you using him as bait though?"

         "He's perceived as an enemy. I want to see what happens when Eren is brought on an expedition, I want to see what we're truly up against."

          "You think Hange's titans being killed is somehow related to Eren?" Juniper asks, even though she already knows the answer.

         Erwin nods his head, "there's something coming, June, I can feel it," he pauses, sighing deeply, "and I want you to be there with me when it comes."

         "You know I'll always be there, Erwin."

        A content and satisfied smile paints Erwin's lips. "Thank you, June."

       "Of course, now, what's the plan? How do you intend to use Eren as bait?" It was painful for Juniper to think of Eren as bait, but this is how it was. Everyone in the Scouting Regiment was used for something, and it just so happened Eren was at the center of it all. Her heart burns as Erwin lays out his plan but Juniper pushes it aside. She's a warrior, she's a Survey Corps member, she's a part of Squad Levi. Juniper knows better than to let her feelings get in the way of a mission or expedition.

       "Juniper?" It was Eren.

      Juniper turns, a gentle smile on her face as she brushes through Channey's mane. "Eren! My favorite! How are you?"

      Eren shrugs, shifting around on his feet nervously. "I don't know how to feel, at first, I was nervous because it's my first time truly outside the walls and I don't know what to expect, but then I was excited because I can finally kill Titans. I'm no longer scared of them. Hopefully."

        Reaching out, Juniper ruffles Eren's hair affectionately, "if you ever need me, call for me, alright? I'll be there." Bashfully, Eren smiles and nods his head, swatting Juniper's hand away from his hair.

      Grinning, Juniper walks away from Eren, her horse trailing behind her. Her face was set and determined as she stalked past other members of the Survey Corps who were preparing for the 57th scouting expedition. Her eyes were focusing on her squad members, a soft smile appearing on her face as Petra catches her eye, eagerly beckoning the girl over.

        Juniper quickens her pace, smiling at the new Survey Corps members——Juniper's certain it was Krista and Ymir——only for Levi to step in her path, shielding her from her members. His eyes were intense and Juniper holds her breath. She didn't know what she was waiting for.

      "Captain Levi," greets Juniper, recovering from her initial shock and smiling widely, "excited for our expedition? The sun is shining and the birds are singing, today is going to be a great day! It's going to be a success, you can count on me! I mean, not only will the finest soldiers be on the field today, but we're on the field today as well."

       "Don't lose sight of Eren," Levi tells Juniper sharply, "and control your emotions. Those are both orders."

        "As I said before, you can count on me! You're looking at your future commander right now!" Juniper says brightly.

        "Tch." Levi moves past Juniper without another look, leaving a grinning Juniper alone. Juniper carries on walking over to her squad, only to get stopped by some of Eren's friends. Juniper's mind turns as she tries to remember their names——Sasha and. . . . fuck Juniper's forgotten, wait, no, Connie! Sasha and Connie——and thankfully she does, her grin bigger than before.

         "Sasha! Connie! How are you both?" Juniper enthusiastically asks.

        "We're feeling nervous——"

        "How do you put up with Captain Levi?" Sasha interrupts, her eyes wide with confusion and wonder.

         Juniper laughs and places her hand on Sasha's shoulder, squeezing it gently. "I know he doesn't really mean what he says," but to be honest; Juniper had no idea how she put up with the Captain. Juniper doesn't know why he doesn't strike her as rude and arrogant, instead, she enjoys watching the captain get all worked up.

          "You are my inspiration, Juniper," Connie tells the older girl, "teach me your ways."

         Juniper laughs loudly, squeezing Connie's shoulder as she did to Sasha moments ago. "When we get back, yeah?" She reaches back to grip Channey's reins and rises onto her toes, catching sight of her squad still in the same spot.

          "I have to go and meet up with my squad, but just know that if you're ever in trouble, call for me, okay? Bye!" She eagerly waves them goodbye, and finally reaches her squad with no more distractions. Her horse stands behind Juniper as she throws both her arms around Petra and Gunther's shoulders, drawing them close to her, cheeks touching.

          "Oh, I am so excited!" Squeals Juniper, her eyes dancing with ecstasy and jubilation. "Finally, another big expedition! With my squad!"

         Petra laughs, pushing away from Juniper but leaving her arm around her shoulder. Gunther does the same, smiling back at Juniper. Her energy was infectious, Eld wore the same grin and there was a hint of a smile on Oluo's face.

          "Yes, but don't forget why we're doing it. For that Eren brat," Oluo mentions, falling back into his Levi impersonation.

        Juniper rolls her eyes, "whatever Oluo! Imagine all the drinking we're gonna do when we get back! Aw man, I love expeditions with my friends." She pulls Petra and Gunther back in for another tight embrace, beckoning her two other squad mates over. Since they both refuse, Juniper parts from Petra and Gunther, and crosses the space to hug both Eld and Oluo.

         "It's time," Levi's monotoned voice says, earning the attention of his squad. With sharp nods of the head, all five of them climb and settle onto their horses, Juniper catching Eren's eyes and winking.

       Juniper sat on her horse beside Eren and not that far behind Levi, waiting. She was waiting for the gates to open, she was waiting for Erwin's yell, she was waiting for the thrill and excitement each expedition brought her.

       And finally, Erwin's shout came.

      "ADVANCE!"

◾◾◾

There was a pure euphoria explosion through Juniper's veins as the wind blew through her hair and Channey moved beneath her body. It's been ages since Juniper's been involved in an expedition this large and important. It made Juniper feel alive as she rode alongside her close friends and alongside her newfound friend, and the boy she promised to protect until her death, Eren.

      Juniper eyes the flat terrain in front of her, her eyes scouring the sky in search of smoke signals. She pinpoints weak areas within the terrain and how she would launch herself through the air if needed.

       Juniper eyes the familiar people surrounding her, making her heart feel safe and her stomach calm. Levi rode up front, confidence flowing from him in waves——Juniper knew he was thinking about later, she was his eyes for the present while he thought about the future. Juniper eyes Petra, Gunther, Eld, and Oluo with a slight smile, then she looks over at Eren who rode beside her, his hands tightly gripping the reins.

       Juniper's slight smile stretched into one that was only full of fondness. She glances back forward, more determined than ever for Erwin's plan to work. More wind slips past her body and more euphoria bursts through her veins, eagerly waiting for the moment Juniper's suspended mid-air with nothing but pure bloodlust filtering through her brain.

        Her eyes turn to the sky again, and there, she finds green. "Green," Juniper calls out, alerting her comrades, all their attention is drawn to the sky and Juniper watches Eren stiffen slightly, his eyes also directed to the sky.

       Oluo fires a green smoke signal into the air, and moments later another Survey Corps member appears to relay a message. "Reporting! A message to pass along——Right flank recon has been destroyed! Our recon system is partially inoperative. Pass this on to the left."

        Where there would usually be fear lacing through Juniper's veins, a sense of thrill climbs past the fear. Maybe this time, she'll really be pushed past her limits——maybe this time, she'll use all her strength to bring down whatever foe is attacking them, just to protect the green-eyed boy beside her.

         Eren turns to Juniper, looking for some kind of reassurance, for an explanation. His eyes were wide and his mouth hung open as if he was searching for something to say. Juniper's eyes were kind and her smile gentle. She places a hand over top Eren's which gripped onto his reins for dear life. "We're going to survive this, Eren——you're going to survive this," Juniper tells him, her voice gentle but every word held strength and determination. "There's no 'if's' or 'but's.'" Her hand tightens around Eren's.

        "Juniper——"

       "Trust us, Eren."

      Petra's sent off to relay the message and Juniper gives Eren one last gentle but determined smile. Her words were clear as the day. If it came down to it, Juniper would sacrifice her life for Eren's.

       Black smoke appears in the air and Juniper's hands wrap tighter around the reins, her heels digging deeper in Channey's sides. The thrill unleashed through her body was too much to handle. She presses up forward, moving past Eren to be in line with Levi.

       "What a mess," Levi was saying to himself, "we let it penetrate deep into our formation."

       "Talking to yourself again, Captain?" Juniper says, mirth seeping into her voice, "I thought you quit doing that ages ago."

        Levi spares a glance at Juniper. "Don't lose your focus, brat."

       Juniper sighs, "I love it when you talk dirty to me, Captain."

      "Tch."

      Juniper sighs again, "you know, Captain, you have very little to say, but when you do say something, I fall even more in love with you."

      Levi ignores Juniper who giggles and remains alongside Levi, her eyes finally seeing the forest she'd been searching for since the start of the expedition. The thrill beneath her skin evens out, simmering away——waiting for the perfect moment to boil over and explode, allowing Juniper's sense of logic to dissipate. Allowing Juniper to throw herself head first into the situation in front of her without a single thought.

        The forest darkens Juniper's vision slightly as they enter, the 80 meter trees tower over Juniper and make her feel less significant than she truly is. They ride on in silence, Juniper alongside Levi with Eren trailing behind, his heart skipping beats and hands turning white from gripping his reins tight.

       "Captain! Captain Levi!" Eren calls out, his voice desperate.

         "What?"

       "We're in the middle of the woods! If the center enters alone, we won't know if Titans are approaching! It seems something's approaching us from the right——how are we supposed to dodge the Titans or protect the carts?"

        "Don't go on and on about the obvious," Levi grumbles, annoyed. "We can't do that anymore, of course."

        "Then, why?"

       "Eren," Juniper pipes up softly from beside Levi, turning her head to look at the younger boy, "the trees." She gestures to the tall trees surrounding the squad. Her smile is gentle towards Eren as Levi speaks back up.

        "Look around, Eren, at all these big trees. It's the perfect environment for 3D Maneuver Gear. And, try to use that tiny brain of yours——"

        "——his brain isn't tiny, Captain. Yours is!"

       "——if you don't want to die, think." Levi finishes, sparing a blazen glare at Juniper who grins proudly. Her heels dig deeper into Channey's side and her body lowers close to the horse. She hopes that whatever they're going into, works. Juniper's placing all her hope and faith into the hands of Commander Erwin.

        A black smoke signal is released into the air and everything inside of Juniper reaches the cresendo it's been longing for. It's at the tipping point; the tense point before everything explodes, before everything boils down the side.

       "It's from directly behind us! It's whatever was coming towards us on the right," Eld expresses to the group.

       "Draw your blades," Levi commands, eliciting gasps and stares from his comrades, from his trusted Survey Corps members. "If we see it, it'll only be for a second."

      Thrill explodes through Juniper and she draws her blades out, her hands freeing from the reins. They shift around and grip the handle of the blades tightly, flames licking her stomach in anticipation. Juniper licks her lips, restlessness taking over her body.

      An unfamiliar body floats in the air for a few seconds——and then the body is flung aside like it was nothing. Juniper gapes, taking in their foe; short blonde hair, red skin contrasting the white, it was practically all muscles and no skin, and clearly female. Juniper's heels dig deeper into Channey's side and she launches forward with her horse. Juniper was finally going to test how far her strength can go.

      "It's fast!" Eld exclaims, "in these trees, there's no way to foresee and evade its attacks! It'll catch us!"

      It's fast, Juniper thinks, her mind a maze of tricks, searching for the perfect way to maneuver herself into an ideal position to take down the female foe and keep Eren alive. It's faster, but we're smarter.

      "Captain, let's switch to Manuever Gear!" Petra calls out, her voice matching the desperation of the others. Juniper wills herself to stay calm. There's too much intensity and anticipation flowing through her veins, it's overtaking any sense of logic Juniper's gripping onto. All Juniper wants to do is shoot up into the air and send her blades spinning towards the nape of the female Titian. But, Juniper reminds herself to wait.

      Reinforcements from the rear arrive and Juniper spares glimpses of the fight over her shoulder. Her mouth remains ajar as she watches how highly intelligent this Titan appears to be. Juniper gulps. Erwin was right to believe everything leads back to Hange's Titans being killed. This Titan isn't an ordinary Titan, Juniper's sure of that.

      "Captain, your orders?!" Petra's shriek cuts through the air as the female Titan eats up the little space between them now.

      Juniper finds herself staring desperately at the side of Levi's face, her trust in him was drowning in place of wonder, uncertainty, and cluelessness.

      "Let's go for it! It's dangerous——we should kill it!" Oluo yells.

      Levi remains quiet in the face of all the yelling. And there, in the back of her mind, is a voicing telling Juniper everything is going to be okay. A hand appears in Juniper's mind, moving aimlessly through the waters of uncertainty, of cluelessness, of wonder, and it pulls Juniper's trust from the dark waters which have been attempting to wash away the last pieces of hope Juniper clung too.

      Juniper's eyes flicker shut for a moment and her mind draws a blank white paper, starting all over again. She opens them and finds Levi staring back at her, his face covered in details clear to no one but Juniper. "Levi," Juniper utters, her voice clear for Levi to hear her request——her question.

      "Don't lose your focus. Keep your emotions under control." Levi reminds Juniper, his voice low but full of authority. Juniper nods her head, willing herself to face forward, and press on faster. Her trust in Levi was stronger than any other emotion, or feeling, clinging to Juniper like a foul smell.

      Levi turns to face the rest of the squad. "Everyone, cover your ears." The anticipation, the tension——every emotion and feeling has reached its peak. Levi lets it all explode as he releases a sound blast into the air.

      Ringing sounds in Juniper's ears as she pulls her fingers away from her ears. She peers over her shoulder, ignoring the Titan chasing them and, instead, she checks over each of her comrades. They're all fine. Everyone is going to be fine. Her eyes linger on Eren's as he glances at her. she offers him a gentle smile that contrasts to the wild flames licking at her stomach and chest now.

      "What are your jobs? Do they involved getting overwhelmed by fickle emotions? That shouldn't be the case," Levi tells his squad, "our squad's duty is to keep this brat from getting a single scratch on him. Even if it costs our lives."

      Juniper glances back at Eren. The flames still continue to lick away at her stomach and chest.

      "We'll continue to flee on horse," Levi commands, "got that?"

      Petra's and Juniper's voices mingle in the air as they agree to their Captain's orders, fierce determination overtaking the fear and uncertainty they felt moments ago.

      "Flee? To where exactly?!" Eren exclaims, asking another question——Juniper finds Eren a very curious boy, and sometimes, just sometimes, he needs to trust those around him without asking any questions. "Besides, it's already right on our tails——again?! Reinforcements! They'll get killed like the others if we don't help!"

      "Eren——" Juniper's voice came out sharp and clear.

       "Eren! Face forward!" Gunther's voice carries over Juniper's.

       Juniper's hands are slick with anticipation, it hurts, to keep riding forward instead of facing back and fighting the foe, but Juniper placed her faith in Erwin last night, and her faith in Levi early this morning.

       "Eren!" Juniper calls back out, her voice sharper than Eren's heard it before. "Don't lose focus." Levi's words echo through her mind like a mantra. "Just keep riding." There was fire in her words, clear, sleek determination——Juniper wants to succeed at any cost.

       "Why?!" Eren's voice is still prevalient over the loud thumping behind them, "if we, the Levi Squad, don't stop it, who's going to?! Another person died! We might've been able to save him!"

       "Eren, keep calm!" Juniper's voice was more desperate than sharp this time.

       "There's someone still fighting!" Eren ignores Juniper's words, "if we go now, we can make it!"

       Juniper wants to look back, but she has to face forward, to continue to look around for any obstacles in their way. Petra reminds Eren to face forward, her voice clearer than the day. Juniper reminds herself to keep going. This will come to a climax soon, and the climax will be favorable on their side.

       Juniper whips her head around, losing her focus on what she's supposed to be looking for, she's decided enough is enough. Why doesn't Eren trust them? Juniper knows they proved their trust and belief in him all those days ago when he transformed just to reach a teaspoon.

       "Eren!" Juniper shrieks, her eyes wide as she focuses upon Eren's hand nearing his mouth. "Eren, stop." His crystal green-eyes find Juniper's, and gone was the gentleness of a mother, gone was the calming waves. All Eren found was fire and determination, recklessness and belief. "I promised to protect you, didn't I? Don't make me regret my decision, Eren." Juniper's words were harsh, but they were true. "We're already so far in, don't misplace our belief——our faith."

       Eren's hand moves closer to his mouth and Juniper's eyes widen further.

       "Eren!" Juniper's voice rings out at the same time Petra's does.

       "What are you doing, Eren?! That should only be done when your life is in grave danger. Didn't you promise us that?" Petra tries to persuade the boy, but it doesn't work. Juniper feels helpless, uncertainty moves its way up through Juniper's body full of anticipation and thrill.

       "You're not in the wrong." Levi's voice was monotone——almost bored, "feel free to do it. It's clear to me, he's a true monster and not because of his Titan abilities. No matter how you try to hold him down, no matter what cage you lock him up in, forcing his mind into submission is an impossible task."

       Juniper's lungs burn for air, but she won't bend to their demands——how can she when just behind her, Eren's about to give up their trust?

       "Eren, the difference between your decisions and ours arises from the gap in experience. But, you see, you don't need to depend on such a thing. Decide. Either you believe in yourself, or the soldiers of the Survey Corps, myself included. I don't know the right answer, I never have. Even if I believed in myself, and the decisions of the comrades who've earned my trust, the result was always a complete mystery. That's why you should do your best to make a decision you won't regret."

       The sound of ODM gear shooting out fills the silence.

       "Eren!" Petra calls out, the desperation still seeping through her voice, "believe in us."

      The silence is long and heavy, its thick with tension and Juniper gasps for air that isn't riddled with uncertainty, fear, and desperation. Juniper hopes Eren belives in them, her heart thumps loudly and the flames grow hotter. Juniper's never felt this desperate before.

      "Eren! Hurry up! Decide already!" Levi calls out, and Juniper knows his feelings mirror her own.  Juniper gulps in anticipation, waiting to hear the familiar sound of a human changing into a Titan form. But it never comes.

      "I'll keep going!" Eren's decision was clear as day and a stupid smile crosses over Juniper's face and her slack hands tighten back around Channey's reins, her heels digging deeper into Channey's side, begging the horse to race faster.

      "Faster!" Levi shouts as the foe picks up acceleration, "we'll outrun it."

      Then, comes the moment Juniper's been waiting for——the reason she's been looking ahead this entire time. The female Titan slows its acceleration, and the familiar shout of Erwin fills the air. "FIRE!"

      Hundreds of grappling hooks are fired into the air, embedding themselves into the skin and muscles of the female Titan. Juniper carries on ahead, satisfaction in knowing the ambush was a success. The flames die down and the anticipation circulating her body soothes itself.

      "After securing the horses up ahead, switch to your ODM gear. I'll act separately for a while. Juniper and Eld will share responsibility of the squad." Levi's command was clear and he leaves no room to argue. "Hide Eren a good distance away from that Titan. I'll leave the horses to you."

      Levi spares a glance at Juniper before his ODM gear is shooting out and impaling into a tree, lifintg Levi off his horse. Juniper smiles softly to herself as she watches Levi glide away, noting the look on his face which told her everything and nothing at the same time.

      "Send Erwin my regards!" Juniper calls out, a playful and satisfied grin resting against her lips. 

author's note,
hey.......its been a while, huh??

aot season 4 part two is out now so i am kinda in the aot mood, and also, daphne and nicole are another reason why i decided to write this story again <3 they made me miss levi and juniper my faves they are so cute!!! sun gf and moon bf i will never get over that.

um anyway i hope u enjoyed this chapter, its not the best but elle oh elle. see u whenever i update next!!

i hope u enjoyed the cute eren and juniper scenes and the best friendship ever aka erwin and juniper!!