Anastasia takes a liking to Petra Ral after seeing her attitude with Aurou Bossard. Petra, however, liked Anastasia when she was alone with her. Silence made Petra happy. She was no longer lured in by the noise of blades sheathing or of wires shooting from coiled machines.

Anastasia swings her legs over the small balcony.

"Congrats on your squad." Petra says. "Carmen wouldn't shut up about it."

Anastasia laughs and rubs the back of her head.

"Thank you, my sister had picked out some of them as well."

Silence as Anastasia swings her legs.

"You are stationed across the hall from Captain Levi, huh?" Petra asks. "I'm so jealous. The women around here would kill for that."

Anastasia shakes her head.

"He is very quiet. He barely even talks to us when we wake up." Anastasia says, smiling sheepishly. "He isn't really... one for physically expression, huh?"

"Captain Levi and us are close," Petra says with a rub of her shoulder to her chin, "friends from my toes to my nose. I'm sure that if I even thought of him as more Aurou would wake his sorry ass out of whatever dream he is in and kill him for sure."

Anastasia laughs at that, a hand to her mouth and eyes half shut. "Petra, I'm sure Aurou would be terrified of Captain, though he wouldn't get that far -- his tongue would be bleeding within a few steps."

Petra laughs like the wind chimes Anastasia used to hang on her front porch in some distant life. Her heart races like a horse and she forced her laughter down so she can breath again.

The door opens to the balcony and both of them scramble into a salute.

"At ease," It's Erwin, "Anastasia, come with me if its not a problem."

"Yes, sir!"

^ ^

Erwin seats her across from his desk and tangles his fingers together.

"I'm sure you are taking your squad seriously."

"Yes, sir."

"How are they handling you?"

"Very well, sir."

"Speak freely, cadet."

"Personal levels are mingling with rankings. Carmen and I are close friends wise as Sita is with the rest of them. Both of us together will be able to control them nicely."

"Good," Erwin jots something down, "however, some of the recruits in the 104th group will be needing some help transporting some supplies over to a District not far from here. Would you and your squad be interested?"

"Yes, sir." Anastasia answers calmly. "How long do we have, sir?"

"About three hours to the dot. Hurry up and gather them, I'm sure visiting that old place will be fun."

^ ^

Anastasia rounds up everyone. In a line, Sita stands next to Mani, Lenise, Carmen and Flint.

"Erwin has given us an assignment." She says with her hands behind her back. "You have three hours to clean yourself and dress again in your 3DMG straps and shine your boots before we leave, understood?"

"Yes, ma'am."

For a moment, there is quiet. She looks over at Mani and then breaks into a warm grin that makes his hands tingle. She chuckles. "That sounded really harsh, didn't it?" She questions. "At ease, soldiers."

They all relax and crowd around her. Side of Sita and Mani.

"You should really try and speak up," she says to him. Mani looks down and rubs his shoulders.

"I'm not one for words. I like the life in living just now. Besides, we're all going to die, why become friends with them."

The group quits chattering and Anastasia glances over at Mani who takes a step closer towards Sita, who takes a step up to block their view. "That subject will be dealt with when we return. Dismisses, soldiers."

Anastasia and Sita jog back to their rooms. Once at the door way, Anastasia deflates and sighs. "Oh, my heart is racing. I don't think I could lead a group even if I tried."

"Sister, your heart races not for the group but for those people back at camp. Reiner and Bertolt, no? You've gotten yourself in too deep." Sita says. Anastasia wants to say something about Mike, but she doesn't.

"Yes, I am in love. However, choosing one would be hard. I cannot --"

"Then pick both, I have seen the way Bertolt looks at Reiner, he loves him more than anything."

Anastasia puts a hand on the door knob to her room. "As do I. I will see you in three hours."

She walks in and they depart.

^ ^

At the training camp, Anastasia is overjoyed at seeing everyone. Her smile is enough to brighten the night.

Keith Shadis, though his face stoic and frozen, feels a bit of pride, like a group of trainees became the best in the entire Walls.

Sita and her squad ride in on horse back just a a few minutes after Anastasia. The cadets circle around Sita and Anastasia chats with Bertolt behind the brocade of cadets.

"How is it like to have a squad?" Armin asks. Sita gets down from her horse and helps Mani down from his. He half hides behind her, half looks over her as she stands. Lanise and Flint both stay on horse back.

"It's alright, I suppose. We've only had them for a day or two." Sits replies, walking forward and shedding her cloak. Marco, a tall male with freckles on his cheeks, touches the fabric.

"How does it feel to be a real soldier?"

"We don't know. Anastasia and I have yet to explore the outside world." Sita replies. She peeks through the cadets and finds Anastasia with Reiner and Bertolt, a three pointed shape or a group behind the cadets.

"The commander gave us an assignment. I hope Instructor did as well."

Anastasia looks back and smiles her cheery smile and everyone turns to her.

"We're here to help load boxes." She says cheerfully. "Let's get started."

The group nods and the move over to a large wagon, empty and ready for the supplies. It's parked next to the supply house. Eren stands there with Mikasa, both silent. Anastasia waves and Mikasa looks mildly happy to see her. Eren crosses his arms and gives a close mouthed smile. "Anastasia." He nods. She smiles at him, green against gold in a battle of the brightest. Everyone gets their share of greetings before they begin. Loading the boxes into the wagon until its full and the next one pulls up. Anastasia rolls up her sleeves, and glances over at Jean, who has his eyes glued to Mikasa as she carries two boxes at once to the wagon. Sighing, Anastasia keeps working.

Soon enough, night falls, everyone heads back to their buildings side for Bertolt, Reiner and Sita's squad. Anastasia looks back behind her and Sita nods.

"We'll meet her there," She says, "Everyone saddle up and lets ride back."

Orders are orders and the squad heads back. Once out of ear shot, Anastasia looks over at Bertolt and steps forward. "Life won't be easy with me." She says. "I cannot guarantee your safety. Both of you." Bertolt nods. "Th-That's alright." He looks over at Reiner. A lot seems to swirl in his eyes. Betrayal. Pain. Anastasia sets a hand on his cheek and he leans into it.

"Don't be scared." She whispers. "He loves you. He loves us."

It's a dangerous thing. A horse clips closer, Anastasia hears it, but she stands up on her toes, and Bertolt leans down, and their lips dance with electricity in between, fire burning as his warm palms brush her cheeks and cup her waist. He pulls her in. It's beautiful. They have eyes closed.

The horse pulls short and Anastasia slowly pulls away. Bertolt hugs her close. "I don't... Want you to leave. Please don't leave." She rubs his back best she can before pulling away.

"I won't. I swear."

She hears the horse pull away. Whoever was riding it speeds off back to where they came from. Anastasia could care less. Reiner rounds the corner and picks Anastasia by the waist. "Hey, now don't go giving kisses away for free like that. I'm still here."

She pecks him cheerfully on the lips and grins. "Don't worry, you'll get your share."

^ ^

Anastasia lays in bed that night. Warm cheeks, red cheeks, her fingers are buzzing. Her mind is a haze. In a swift motion, she tumbles from bed and slides on her boots. She shrugs her coat on and walks out of her room. She leans on her door and grins to herself. The hallway is empty. Everyone else is asleep.

Side for the person across the hall. After a few moments, their door opens, and out steps Levi, dark hair wild and steel grey eyes sharp.

"What are you doing up this late?" He asks softly.

She looks down, her cheeks flushed red. "Sorry, Captain." She bows slightly. "I've just, had a lot on my mind."

Her grin slips out and she presses a hand to her lips. "Please, excuse me." She bows again and leaves. She walks down the hallway, turns left and is gone. Levi is alone in the hallway, and doesn't realize Sita was there, standing in her doorway.

"You... You understand not of us." Sita says. "We know everything. We see things you don't."

Levi clenched his hands. "But, do you? Do you really?"

Turning back, he shuts his door and crawls back into bed. He barely sleeps. The memory of Anastasia kissing that tall boy burning in his brain. It crawls down his throat, shoves it's ugly hands into his eyes like fire. He's never felt this way before -- side for when Erwin gets too close and he feels like his skin would melt right off his bones.