HOPE YOU ENJOY

PLEASE VOTE

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

The expedition, it was going well compared to how bad it could have been. No one knew the body count just yet meaning that they can all lie to themselves as they carry on riding outside the walls, riding further and further, killing titan after titan why thinking they're doing better than ever. 

Of course, that wasn't the truth. 

The best expedition results that's ever been noted down was a single death and many wounded, that's the best results that have ever been given. 

Just a single death, that was seen as an achievement by now but wounded, they'll always have wounded. If it's wounded by missing a limb, bruising, cut or just their mental state being completely gone. 

But for now, everything was fine. No bad news, no god awful events and no real trouble for anyone who hasn't been affected. 

They just carried on riding, gaining as much distance as they were told and just hoping that everywhere else was going as smoothly as them. 

It's how soldiers got by, thinking that everyone else is having as good as them why they're somewhere safe or having it easy for once. 

It was a good lie to live during an expedition. 

But for those who seemed to keep on bumping into titan after titan, their squad facing two or more at once and having to fight or run. 

It was starting to look hopeless, the pain and truth destroying past the lies they told. 

Blood, death and cries became the only truth to them as they carried on fighting until they just couldn't fight anymore or a Titan took their fight with their life. 

Command being passed on and on as this who could lead kept dying, this taking lead losing their mind as it only grew worse and everyone just had to trust that someone close by could help with they fought together. 

Those who could still hold a grip while scared carried slashing down titans or leading them away from other's who needed the break, who had to carry riding on for the shake of humanity. 

Mikasa, she was between both sides. 

She wasn't really placed in a squad but she had two groups either side of her in the distance and she's fought with both. 

She saw the death, 

She saw the blood,

She saw the power of the titans,

And,  she stood alive. 

For now, she was standing on a seven meter titan head. 

Her swords in hands and her eyes just looked to the view before her, it was breath taking. 

Freedom, it was the incredible feeling she's ever felt and she couldn't help but admire it as she stood still. 

She had her comrades blood on her uniform, saving some from a titan and catching them as they fell before passing them over to another group or towards the medics that was riding close to the back centre.

But for now, she just felt at peace, no longer caring over the titan she stood on that was getting ready to try and grab her as she tapped her foot in his hair. 

She didn't notice the squad to her left, how their eyes fell on her and the gasps leaving their lips as they looked to the sight. 

She just closed her eyes, holding her arms out before hopping back, missing being grabbed by the titan hand as she fell downwards. 

Feeling the wind against her eyes as she carried on feeling as the titan started to turn around. 

This was unbelievable and she wanted to soak up the feeling forever, to open her eyes and find that this wall real and not a wishful dream. 

"MIKASA!"

Her eyes finally opening as she pressed the controls, hooking them into the titan shoulders before pulling herself towards it. Unhooking the grappling hooks from her gear, giving a little gas as she  flipped over the titan head, enjoying her time in such a comforting time knowing she'll have to go back to being a soldier soon. Gripping her swords before she turned her body, sending her hooks into the Titan neck before flying towards it as the wires yanked her forward.

Her swords slicing away at the nape before she ran down its him as it started to fall, using the arm as a ramp as it fell and soon .. she stood on the floor untouched and unbothered. 

She lifted her gaze as she noticed a horse riding towards her, ignoring any yells or calls from the squad before and her eyes fell on Levi. 

Oh no, he wasn't happy .. she was going to get a long speech about this once they're back in the walls and a loud yelling at right now. 

He hopped of his horse, landing before her and his eyes scanning her over, noticing the blood first and panic starting rising within him. His hands reaching out to the top of her arms, she could feel his hands shaking as he slowly lifting his gaze to meet her own.

"It's not mine" She answered first, meeting his gaze and letting him see the life that she held within them, she was alive, she was safe and she was right here.

He gave a silent nod, letting relief take over him as he wasn't sure what he would rather face. News over her death by a titan or having her die before his eyes without him having a  missed chance to ever save her. 

But she was live, she was here and he could touch her proving she wasn't a hopeful dream to him. 

"You'll be joining us, we're gathering up any single soldier's we've passed since the squads and soldiers have been spread out more than we expected before. Titans are making us all go ride and not everyone been able to see flairs sent up due to the distance .. we're gathering up at a safe point. Where's you horse?" He finally spoke, his hands falling back to his side as he went back as the Captain not as someone who deeply cared for her and her alone. 

"Abnormal kicked it as it ran past, I gave up the dead soldier horse to one of the injured in hopes they'll reach a medic or the walls into before blood lost" She answered with a shrug, glancing to the spot where the titan once laid but fully steamed away now.

"You've been walking this whole time!" He yelled in horror, his squad and the other soldiers all slowing down and growing with shock as they heard the captain.

"I don't want to answer that because you'll yell at me"  She replied like a child who got caught red handed by their mother. 

"I don't know if I should call you brave, unlucky or just stupid. Come on, you'll share my horse until we reach up with the other's" He sighed, turning back to his horse and jumping on. 

Neither could lie, his horse was beautiful. It was midnight black with long silky matching hair that he never placed in a plat and left it to fly free. A single white line around it's neck like a chain was forever around the horse. It was fast but smart, Levi had gained it as his own horse after his first expedition as captain. He held trust with the horse and well, he's been able to get real close to titans and still have the horse waiting for him after he's killed the titan. 

"I'm not riding on him" She replied without a second though, her hand stroking the nose of the horse as it leaned into her touch already use to her like he was with his owner. 

"I think it's a very good name" He argued back as he glanced away as both she and the horse reacted. She stood with a hand on her hip, her eyebrow raised while the horse turned it's head trying to give an unamused look to him. 

"You called him as Tea ... Who the fucks calls their horse TEA!" She whispered yelled back, throwing her hands in the air as Levi actually called his horse the three letter word without any shame. 

"Clearly I do, I got told to give him a name that I like and I like tea. It's rather simple and at least's he named after something I like" He shot back without any shame for his name calling skills.

"Never call your children" She deadpanned, Tea nodding his head in agreement. 

"Either get on Tea or go join one of the others on their horse and have the enjoyment over having to have someone else give you a lift. To be told that one of those strangers had to save you" He sighed, raising a daring eyebrow since they both know if she ride with anyone but him or her close friends they'll boast about having to save her during the expedition or talk over Mikasa owning them one. Or worse, they'll make up lies over having her pretty face so close and spread rumours of holding her or having her cling to them .. It would be a living hell until someone stepped in and proved it all to be bullshit. 

"I'll ride with you and Tea" She scoffed, Tea giving a happy head shake and hopped a little before standing still for Mikasa to jump on.

Levi offered his hand, letting her take it before helping her up and sitting her in front of him. Why some might speak over the clear height distance, Mikasa just leaned her back into her captain chest as he slid his arms around her waste to hold tea reigns. 

Soon they got riding once again, Levi squad staying silent over what they were witnessing, Levi never shared his horse with someone. He's always had his own squad share with one another when one of them lost their horse or if they picked up a random stranded soldier. 

Yet, here for the whole squad and the rest of the soldiers to see .. Captain Levi was riding his horse with Mikasa. The two sitting perfectly and working well together to keep the ride smooth and easy for them both. Their gear not digging into the other and Levi still had full power over Tea.

"You never told me if was this magnificent" Mikasa whispered, her head leaned to his shoulder as her eyes stared to the clear sky above them.

"I feared that if you learnt over how spectacular this freedom was, you'll leave for it. I lost Furlan and Isabel, I was scared over losing you next. So, no matter how much I wanted to praise the feeling outside the walls, I just couldn't say it to you" Levi admitted in a small whisper, his eyes staying ahead and making sure their path was clear towards their destination. 

"It's truly astonishing and I'm glad I got to share it with you, even if I was a little late on catching up" Mikasa smiled fondly, closing her eyes as she took in the moment and never wishing for it to end even if they were in titan territory.

"We'll carry on feeling these extraordinary moments as long as you always return to those walls with me" Levi spoke, his eyes soft as he stole a glance to her as she started opening her eyes once more. 

"As long as you don't get in my way when I call dibs on a titan" Mikasa smirked making him chuckle.

"That works two ways" Levi shot back with a grin as she giggled.

"Good, because I call dibs on this one" Mikasa smirked, sending a cheeky wink before standing up and hopping out of his curved arms that once held her, her hooks grabbing the coming titan to their left before she was pulled towards it. 

Levi carried on riding onwards knowing she could handle herself and if not, Tea could run to the titan before it even got a chance to kill her. He would just slow down once the titan was delt, giving her a chance to hop back on his horse who clearly felt the same as it kept turning its head towards her. 

"She really is something, it's like she's dancing with the wind. She's having to use little effect to dodge the titan and she just easily kills them with a single slice .. she's almost as good as the captain" Oluo mumbled amazed as he rid on the back left corner of the group, his eyes watching Mikasa play with the titan a little. 

"She's using too much gas" Petra huffed in annoyance as she rid somewhere on the right of the group they huddled up, Levi squad acting as an escort to them all as they made towards the meet up point. 

"But this is her first expedition, she'll be making mistakes and learning from all her actions today. We all did something we shouldn't or used to much swords and gas when we first went out of the walls. It's only normal for her to use a little more gas then needed but she is still rather remarkable for a fresh recruit" Gunther replied from the back right of the group, his eyes falling on Mikasa before turning back to look again. 

"It's beyond my belief but I'm swear she has wings" Eld spoke out stunned, just watching as Mikasa leaned on the titan back as it felt down after she sliced the nape, the titan becoming her new landing pad before she hopped down. 

Levi stayed silent, he couldn't help the smirk on his lips as he listened to his own squad talk over Mikasa and than all the other soldiers were muttering, whispering and commenting over what they just watched before speaking over how she killed the first titan when they found her. Mikasa was gaining a name for herself and she only killed two titans before these people, he would hate to think how many other titans she killed before they found her. 

He broke from his position once more, Tea heading straight towards Mikasa without him having to tell the horse to speed up or move. Holding his hand out as Mikasa turned to him and knowing her back would be sore in the morning after their next action. She grabbed Levi hand, letting him yank her back on to Tea before riding back towards the group and leading once more.

"That's not Furlan cape" Levi commented as he noticed the cape on Mikasa was brand new, the clips were around the neck for easy release if a titan grabbed it compared to the three buttons over the shoulders that Furlan one had since it was the old model capes. 

"Hanji advised me to use my spare capes when on an expedition since they'll get ripped, muddy and bloody. Plus, she showed how easy the release clip on the new caps came undo if the cape was grabbed harshly like a titan would when trying to catch us. For my safety, she told me to use my own capes" Mikasa answered with a slight shrug as she kept her legs over one side, sitting side ways in Levi lap as his arms were around her once more and controlling Tea with ease. 

"I didn't think over that" Levi frowned, feeling careless over how easily Mikasa would be at risk with Furlan cape during an expedition. The capes kept them wall and dry but they flew up when using odm gear and it was easy for Titans to grab them. Some even had their necks snapped and broke by a titan grabbing the cap with such force it strangled them in one movement. It's why capes with the single clip around the neck was made, to give them an easy released if such things happened. 

"Don't think over the worse, I'm alive and I'm here with you, I'm right here" Mikasa whispered, turning her head to face him and lifted one of her hands to his cheeks to let him feel the warmth from her palm to prove she was still alive. 

"You're here with me and I'm here with you" Levi reminded himself, leaning into her hand and closing his eyes making all his fears and worries fade away once more. 

It took them another fifteen minutes of riding but they soon reached some rubble that looked to be a couple of pre-titan life buildings. All knocked over and nothing more than brick or stone just laying across the grounds. Bumps making them have to climb over or ride away and barely safe for anyone to stand inside if they hopped through an old window. The walls were mostly gone, outlines of rooms were made over the years but nothing was stopping any of the rubble from clasping and burying anyone inside alive with it. 

They've lost a couple of soldiers to that in the past it seems, before Erwin became commander. They checked out the rumble and had soldiers slip inside the squad spaces that would be a room long ago but it was already gone. A single movement, a single weight or nose made everything clasped inside, taking the poor soldier lives with it. Now, the outline of buildings were nothing more than lumps that got in their way. 

But they arrived, hundreds of soldiers already there and Erwin stood with Mike. Levi hopped down with Mikasa, knowing Tea would stay with the other horses and come running if they had to leave in a rush. Mikasa glanced around, noticing Hanji and Moblit wasn't with the commander or captain. 

"Where's four-eyes and mamabear?" Levi asked with no mercy, his squad and Mikasa standing behind him silently. 

"Moblit got hurt, he's alive and fit to fight but Hanji patching him up. He hit his head a little head, enough to gain a keep dash on his temple but a medic already looked him over and said he'll be fine. Hanji is just over worrying and rechecking him to make sure he was actually okay and not acting strong for her shake. They'll be heading over soon" Erwin answered with ease, he was rather glad that Moblit arrived before Hanji and got the small group of soldiers around him to make look out points for them all.

Of course, Erwin made him see a medic as soon as they arrived and than Hanji arrived and let her emotions take over more than normal as she rushed over to Moblit side, looking ready to cry as she saw his bleeding head. It was a good thing the two were having their moment hidden away as other's arrived since they won't have time for it to happen now. 

Mike stepped around Levi, sniffing at Mikasa before patting her shoulder like a proud uncle, giving her a proud smile and looking pleased to see her alive. After all, a soldier first expedition was always the more dangerous, they would be facing an enemy they've only ever heard about and could never image how truly cruel and terrifying they are until they saw it in person. You either died, survived or go mad during your first expedition and Mike was glad to see her as the survived option.

"What's the plan now?" Mikasa asked without thinking, Erwin just shaking his head amused.

"We have another twenty minutes before I call a full fledge retreat. I've been sending squads back since a good number been arriving here. We're sending everyone back slowly to try and stop us becoming titan bait and leading a group of titans to the walls. It seems more than half has survived by my count and that's all I'm thankful for but when we get back, I'll be calling for a meeting, for those with rank" Erwin answered, crossing his arms as he looked to Mikasa before glancing around at all the soldiers, some still arriving as some left back towards the walls liked ordered. He met with Mikasa eyes as he mentioned a meeting knowing she'll try and sneak in and making it clear she wasn't allowed to sneak in like she did as a child. 

"Hanji, I love you but we're in an expedition. You need to worry over your own life than mine, I'm alive for now and that's all you need to know. We'll talk over this more but for now, we stand as soldiers not as lovers" Moblit sighed as he stood a couple feet away, his hands firmly on Hanji shoulders as he looked to her teary eyes behind her goggles.

"I know but I could have lost you without every knowing it until we returned to the walls, I don't want our end to be that cruel. I wish to either live beside you or die beside you, you're apart of my squad and I don't expect you to go solo like that again" Hanji weakly spoke, bringing her hand to his cheek, neither noticing the group close by had grown in numbers since Hanji pulled Moblit away to check him over personally and make sure he won't die on her. 

Mike coughed as the rest awkwardly stood still, Levi squad glancing away and trying to act like they didn't just see or hear all that knowing that type of relationship wasn't allowed within squads. Moblit freezing up, an embarrassed blush filling his cheeks as he turned to look at the group while Hanji turned her head away. Wiping under her goggles to get rid of her tears and look less weak before she nodded to herself, locking up her feelings and returned to captain mode.

"Ooh, Mikasa. When did our sweetly little killer join Levi squad. I bet you looked so big and strong while slashing away at Titans nape, our little murderous birdy. Did you have fun, did you kick a titan limb after cutting it off like I told you too .. come on, tell me all about your first day. Did anyone try bullying our cute little ball of death" Hanji baby talked with a silly grin as she skipped over to Mikasa, grabbing at Mikasa cheeks and pinching them like an old grandma.

"Sorry Mikasa, hold in for a bit. Distracted with you, I can get back to being the soldier I am" Moblit sighed in guilt as Mikasa gave him a silent thumbs up why Hanji stayed pulling at her cheeks without mercy. 

"Blood?" Hanji questioned as her eyes grew wide when she took notice over Mikasa shirt once a breeze passed making the cape fly open a little.

"Not mine" Mikasa answered now that Hanji wasn't holding her cheeks.

"Oh my, you poor little fighter. You must have had a tough day, make sure to take a nice warm shower and go to bed early to get a lot of needed rest, all right our stabby-pie" Hanji smiled like a big sitter, patting Mikasa arms as Mikasa just nodded.

"Mikasa, why don't you go report to you'll be in charge of you when we left this morning" Erwin spoke up, not wanting to watch any more of Hanji baby talking Mikasa since it was rather creepy.

"He's in a titan stomach but I'm sure the rank been passed down to someone who wasn't titan food" Mikasa mumbled back without much class before starting to walk away as Erwin rolled his eyes. 

Levi watched amused as Mikasa started to glance around, clearly trying to spot someone she may recognize or was position close to where she should have been during the expedition before being sent all over the place. 

"Mikasa, isn't this marvellous! We're outside the walls and I'm not even dead within the first few seconds. WE DID IT!!" Armin cheered louder than anyone else around, jumping on Mikasa back like an excited child. 

"Yeah, we'll be seeing the ocean in no time" Eren grinned as he came limping over with Jean behind him, the two following after Armin when he started to run off after seeing Mikasa.

"How's your leg?" Mikasa asked as she turned to Eren, spinning Armin around and having him sit on her hip as she held him like a mother would with her child, Armin just smiling as he kept his arms and legs around Mikasa. 

"It's just a sprained ankle, I think I might live. The embarrassment has a much higher chance of killing me than the ankle or the cut on my arm .. who knew landing on a broke sword wasn't the smoothest landing" Eren grinned, rubbing the back of his head as he looked to Mikasa showing he was fine and back to being himself now the shock had passed. 

"I offered to cut his foot off since he won't stop crying like baby but he won't agree to it. Maybe you could sweet talk him into letting me" Jean joked with a smirk as he elbowed Eren uninjured arm a little.

"Thanks for looking after them" Mikasa spoke, placing a hand on Jean shoulder making the man blush over being touched by his goddess before he gave a silly goofy smile.

"Y-Yeah, anytime. I-I'll do anything for you, Mikasa" Jean shyly smiled, his blush growing darker over his cheeks and even the tips of his ears turned red.

"Yeah, go wank off to her later. We're not dealing with your lame crush outside of the walls too. Otherwise I might actually jump into the next titan mouth" Eren sighed as he rolled his eyes, placing his hands on his hips while Mikasa removed her hand from Jean shoulder and started placing Armin down. 

"Well let me help you, I'll gladly throw you at the next titan we see" Jean scoffed back, glaring to Eren who gladly glared back, the two starting to argue with one another, their hands grabbing each other arms as they shove one another. Eren keeping more of his weight on his uninjured foot. 

"Oh right, I almost forgot. You'll never guess what you saw Mikasa .. we saw a soldier head throwing throw the air after a titan spat it out. It went such a great distance and almost looked like the titan was just playing catch but that a five meter titan ate it. But yeah, it was really cool and fascinating. I got so engrossed in watching it all happen that Eren had to take my horses reigns and stop us from riding towards it" Armin excitedly spoke, jumping on the spot a little and grabbing Mikasa arm, pulling on it a little. 

Everyone around fell silent, even the captains and commanders just stared at the hyper boy with a bit of worry. Even Moblit was judging and he normally deals with Hanji madness. Most thinking he had gone mad and might need to go lay down once they get back to the walls. Eren and Jean even stopping their bickering, letting each other go and they just stared at Armin who's eyes sparkled a little.

Mikasa just lifted her free hand, patting Armin head not sure what to say after that but not wanting to destroy the small bit of enjoyment Armin had. She just patted his head and worried over his future. 

"Moving on, Did you hear about Reiner?" Eren awkwardly spoke, glancing to Mikasa who to him.

"Last time I saw him he was making the joke about shoving his sword up the Titan's ass if you can't reach their nape" Mikasa sighed as she ran a hand through her hair, Jean chuckling at the memory since it was just after they all rid out of the walls gates, just before they all separated to ride in their own given positions. 

"Well, he's still alive and he did stab a titan ass with his sword while saving Ymir. He actually held Ymir princess style after her hooks came lose by mistake" Jean grinned, rubbing his neck as Mikasa just took in the information.

"Princess style, Ymir?" Mikasa repeated, wishing she could have seen that.

"Yep and what makes it worse, Sasha and Connie saw the whole thing. They told us about it before they were sent to head towards the walls" Eren grinned, laughing at a little as Ymir would live with the same forever thanks to the two idiots. 

"Princess style .. like" Mikasa spoke again, holding her hands out as if she was carrying a princess to make sure she was getting it right .. Ymir was held as a princess by none of than Reiner. She was going to tease the older women about this later. 

"I-I could show you, if you want" Jean offered a little hopeful and desperate to hold Mikasa, Armin and Eren just turning to him with frowns. 

Mikasa never got to reject Jean because someone else spoke instead, whoever was in charge of the three were calling them back. Seemed it was their turn to head back towards the walls without a couple other squads making them all share a small frown.

"We'll see you back at the camp, don't go playing hero why we're gone" Armin smiled sweetly, hugging Mikasa before hopping back and ready to walk back to his horse.

"Make sure to tell us what the beauty worth a 100 soldiers could do" Eren said with a silly grin, patting Mikasa arm before limping back.

"Quit it with that nickname, Shadis just wanted to punishment me after trying to fight with Annie during the middle of night" Mikasa sighed as she rolled her eyes, Armin and Eren chuckling at the memory. Mikasa and Annie really did sneak out at midnight to try and finally have their fight but they got stopped just as they were about to start by none of than Keith Shadis himself. The two punishment was completely different, Annie being stuck being sociable with more than just Reiner and Bertholdt while Mikasa was given the nickname "A beauty worth a hundred soldiers" and got everyone to know her as that instead of her name.

"He wasn't wrong though, your the one person I won't want kicking my ass" Jean muttered as Eren and Armin gave him unbelieving look.

"We both know you'll take a beating from Mikasa and love it just because she's touching you" Eren deadpan as Mikasa just looked away, not really wanting to listen to this conversation again.  

"We'll see you soon mikasa, come on boys .. this isn't the place" Armin sighed, pulling Eren and Jean along by their wrists.

"Feel the love" Levi called out, a disgusted look over his face over the topic that Jean and Eren was talking about towards Mikasa. 

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

Hey!

I do hope all my lovely readers are doing well today/tonight/tomorrow or yesterday depending on where you live and the timelines between us.

I just want to say something, I know you're all most likely sick of hearing me say the same thing but I need to. I have not watched season 4 of attack on titan, I am a manga reader though. But I promised someone I won't watch season four without him and due to lockdown and his online classes, he's won't be able to sleep over and just watch the season with me until close to the end of the year.

Of course, I know the storyline but I know the anime has a couple bits of added changes and I've been careful to skip out on any real spoilers or watching clips since I always try to keep my word.

But why've I'm been careful, some have been chatting about it within stories and I just avoid reading them.

All I'm asking is, please don't comment anything over Season four within my own books. I don't mind you doing it elsewhere because we all like to talk about the shows we love and agree or disagree over certain parts. But within this book and any other books done by me, please don't comment or give away any spoilers please.

Thank you and thanks for those who already know this and haven't given any spoilers already, it's much appreciated.

Now, since I read the manga I already know a far bit and I couldn't help but want to share something will you all. I found this when scrolling through social media, dodging the main groups who talk about each episode. And well, I found these and I just wanted to show you all...