...Avenging...
Shadis divided everyone into groups for practicing the ODM gears in the forest.
You were assigned to the same group as the people you knew. Your original friends: Eren, Mikasa, and Armin. Your new friends: Sasha and Connie. Then there were your older friends: Annie, Reiner, and Bertholdt. And also a few you knew but weren't familiar with yet: Jean, Marco, Krista, and Ymir.
The rules were simple: don't fall to your death and don't hit other people so they'd fall to their deaths. You concluded: no suicide and no murder.
You swung through the trees high and low swiftly with ease, feeling the cold, fast wind against your skin and breathing in the smell of Mother Nature.
Somewhere along the line, someone started a game of tag so now you were all fleeing as one person chased after the next.
You sped through the trees, keeping watch on who the new chaser was. A few minutes ago, you had spotted Reiner chasing Connie but now you weren't sure who was next. You also saw Eren and Jean pushing each other around in the air, picking a fight, even though you were sure neither of them were the chaser.
You turned the cornerâsmackâand landed down on a branch. You touched your face, feeling the sting. Through the trees, Annie eyed you as she disappeared into the leaves. You clicked your tongue. Dirty move.
You, the new chaser, swung around, looking for your victim. When you caught a glimpse of red, you sped straight for that way. Mikasa must've realized you were after her as she sped up too, but you kept up perfectly. Compared to everyone else, you and Mikasa were like two lightning bolts racing each other to strike land first.
She dove through trees, unable to lose you on her tail. As you became nearer and nearer, confident enough that you could tag her, you reached out your hand.
Then you heard Sasha's voice from up above. "Y/n, watch out!"
Huh? Suddenly, two forces collided against you from either side, knocking the air out of your lungs. Your ODM gear loosened bit by bit and you fell to the ground like a mosquito that had just gotten clapped dead by two hands. You flipped yourself over onto your back on the grass, catching your breath. The others landed too.
Sasha's face came into the frame. "Holy shit, Y/n, you okay?"
Connie's head popped in from the other side. "She's breathing, of course she's okay." He turned back to you. "Are you okay?"
You sat up and blew your hair out of your face. "Who the fuck did that?!" You scanned your eyes through everyone. Armin, Mikasa, Marco, and Krista looked worried, Ymir looked unbothered, and Annie, Reiner, and Bertholdt had just arrived at the scene.
Behind them all, there you spotted the two perpetrators. Eren who stared at you guiltily while fidgeting with his hands like a child who got into trouble, and Jean who was closely observing the bark of a tree as if it were the most interesting thing he'd ever seen.
"What just happened over here?" asked Reiner.
"Yeah, why don't you two worms in the back get up here and share what just happened?!"
"It was an accident!" Eren was the first to come forward. "Jean and I were just messing around and then we both lost balance on the branch."
"And then we fell off from opposite sides and I guess you were below it at that moment," said Jean. "So, um."
"We're sorry," they both said at the same time. One louder and more meaningful than the other.
You scoffed. What a stupid way to get caught in someone else's mess. "Couldn't you guys have just picked another tree to fight on?"
The galloping of a horse neared. "What is the commotion?" demanded Shadis. "Why is Cadet L/n on the ground? Why are you all not in the air?"
No one said a thing at first, then Eren raised a hand. "It was my fault, sir. I picked a fight with Jean and then we both lost control of our gear."
"No, it was mine," said Jean, sounding a bit annoyed, but still guilty. "I provoked him. Y/n wasn't even involved."
"No," you held up a hand. "It was my fault."
Eren's eyes went wide. "What? Y/n, I-"
"It was my fault for letting myself get hit by these two brainless idiots."
Jean scoffed. "Well in that case, I'm not even that sorry anymore," he muttered.
"Really, I had it coming," you said. "They're pretty prone to do the most stupid things imaginable and everyone knows that. That's why they're all standing, unharmed. So I can't blame these two for what happened because dumb people really can't help themselves be anything except dumb." You pointed to yourself with earnesty. "But as a smart person, I should've known better. Won't happen again, sir."
A few of your friends were already muffling their laughter.
Shadis narrowed his eyes. "State your injuries, Cadet."
"None, sir."
Nearly all of them looked stunned.
"And the hand print on your face?"
You snorted. "I've got Annie to thank for that." You glanced at her. She looked away and smirked. "But it was a game of tag. No harm meant at all."
He nodded. "If any of you break the rules again, hurting your comrades, you will be banned from using your ODM Gear for a week. Now go back to training. And treat it seriously!" He and his horse galloped on their merry way.
"Sasha, Connie, help me up," you said as you got on your feet. "Or not, I'll do it myself."
"Y/n, are you sure you're not hurt?" asked Krista, worriedly. "You fell from almost 10 meters up there. Surely you must have gotten a bruise at least."
"Never been better. Really, the only thing that sort of stings was Annie facepalming me." You cracked your neck and stretched your arms.
"You've got to be a bit more careful," said Mikasa as she plucked off a leaf stuck to your shirt.
"Oh, shut up. You're lucky I got knocked down before I tagged you. I was a second away from doing so."
She snorted. "As if."
Realizing your braid had fallen out, you ran your fingers through your h/c hair and flipped it over. Then you noticed Eren's eyes still on you. "What are you looking at?" you asked, still feeling a bit salty. "Trying to start something again?"
"Whatâoh." His eyes averted away quickly.
"Mhm, that's what I thought."
Jean seemed to notice it too, eyes darting back and forth between you and him. "So Y/n, besides the fact that you literally told Shadis that we're both dumb, why'd you cover for us?"
"Yeah, you're the one who got hit. We should be the ones taking the blame."
"Why would I risk getting you guys banned?" You tied up your hair. "Otherwise I wouldn't be able to do this." You walked past them, whacked the back of their heads which made them hiss in pain, and swung up into the air. "Tag, you're both it!"
The others, getting the memo, immediately swung up into different directions and the Tag Game 2.0 commenced.
. * . *
One day, some of the Scouts visited, bringing some horses for you all to practice.
If ODM Gear was easy for you, riding a horse couldn't be any easier. You seem to naturally know where the pressure points to get it to do what you want. After your turn, you handed the reigns to Krista, who thanked you and got up there with the help of her friend Ymir.
You found a block of hay covered by a cloth to sit on and enjoy the sun.
"Hey, Y/n." You opened your eyes to Jean who had his arms crossed. "Got some time for a little chat?"
"With you? No." You closed your eyes again.
"Come on. It'll be quick. Nothing serious."
"About what?"
"Fine, if you must knowâit's about a girl. Not you. But I want your help."
You raised an eyebrow. "This better be good."
He led you over to the stables where the borrowed horses were kept, away from the others.
"Aw, how sweet of you, inviting me over to introduce me to your cousins."
He groaned. "Not you tooâI do not look like a horse."
"I'm kidding. What's up?"
"So uh, you know your friend?"
"Which one?"
"The pretty one."
"They're all pretty. In their own ways."
He clicked his tongue and leaned in a little, as if afraid other people might hear, to whisper, "Mikasa."
"Oh?" A sly smile spread on your face. "What's this? You interested in her?"
"I'm not the only oneâa lot of the other guys have their eyes on her. And you."
Your eyebrows jumped up. "Me?" You pointed to yourself. "Don't get me wrong, I adore myself, but who in their right minds would ever have eyes for me? Or are you just saying that to flatter me into being your wingwoman? Because I can see right through you."
"I'm not some kiss-ass. It's true."
"Please, as if."
"You seriously don't know? You've got someone so close to you acting the way he acts and you don't know?"
You furrowed your eyebrows, lost. "Who are we talking about here?"
He sighed. "Nevermind. So uh, about that wingwoman thing, can you do me a small favor? Can you, um, talk me up a little to Mikasa? Just a little. And let me know what she thinks of me?"
"Hell no," you told him with certainty. "You've got to talk to her yourself if you're really interested. Otherwise, don't waste either of our time."
"I know that and I will. Maybe. I just need you to sprinkle me in your girl talks a few times. You know, for prework?"
"Here, why don't you tell me who you were talking about first and I'll consider it. The person who's close to me? Who is it?"
"My god, who else would it be?"
"That's why I'm asking, dipshit."
He clicked his tongue. "Eren. Duh."
When the name fully settled down in your brain, your jaw fell slack and you shook your head incessantly. "Fuck no. There's no way."
"Yes way. Do you not see the way he looks at you? Talks to you?"
"That's literally because we've practically grown up together. Of course we're bound to act differently with each other than anyone else."
"You know what? Forget it," he said, shaking his head. "Your blindness is an even worse case than I thought."
"Or maybe you've just never had a boy best friend your entire life and you're just spouting nonsense because you're in the romantic mood for Mikasa. Ever thought of that? Use a little logic here."
He lazily raised his hands up in surrender. "Okay, fine. I'm wrong. You win."
"That's better," you said, heading out. "This talk was ridiculous. Don't ever waste my time like this again."
"So will you put in a good word for me to her?"
"Do it yourself."
"Hey, you said you'd do it if I told you who the person who has a crush on you was."
"I said I'd consider it, and since that Eren bullshit was pure nonsense, we never had a deal in the first place," you said as you walked out the stables.
* . * .
At night, entering the barracks early, you stopped right outside the cracked open door as you heard some girls gossiping again. Those girls who valued their looks more than training. You didn't understand why they even came here. Deciding to listen in, you sat with your back against the wall.
"What about that tall guy, Jean? He's cute too."
You made a mental note that if Mikasa rejected him, you'd know where to send him after.
"And so is that blond. Reiner, I think. Have you seen his muscles?"
"No, have you?"
"Girl, pay attention the next time he lifts up those crates. I swear, they're lifechanging."
Hearing them talk made you realize how you've never had a proper "girl talk" before. It just never had been one of your priorities.
"They're cute and all, but not as cute as Eren."
You scoffed. You recognized that annoying, high-pitched voice belonging to that girl Georgia. She had a little bit of a crush on him, all the girls in your room knew, but the way she talked about him always made you irritated. Talking as if she knew him from his skin to his bones when she had only exchanged words once or twice with him.
"The one with the green eyes?"
"That one. He's so hot and he looks like he's never touched a girl in his life. I can teach him though," said Georgia. Her friends giggled. "Too bad he's always hanging around those two girls Mikasa and Y/n."
You smirked. I know right, too bad.
"Mikasa's actually pretty nice. She helped me with my sit-ups the other day. But Y/n..."
Another one laughed. "She has such a bad attitude. Seriously, I don't understand why everyone likes her. Especially the boys."
"I know right, such an attention seeker. She's strong, sure, but she's such a try-hard."
You rested your head back to the wall and relaxed. This brought you back to the times in the orphanage. Girls making up rumors, guys staring at you but never approaching you. You missed the attention. The pride of knowing that people cared enough about you to talk all the time behind your back. It meant that you had an upperhand.
"Ugh, don't even get me started on her 'friends.' Like that girl, Sasha? She eats like a damn pig."
You sat up straight, sharpening your hearing.
"She sleeps like a pig too."
"And that boring blonde doesn't even talk."
"Speaking of blondes, I saw on multiple occasions the other prettier blonde would climb into that girl Ymir's bed."
"That's gross!"
"And why does Mikasa even have that red scarf? It's so ugly. And I bet it smells." They all fell into fits of laughter.
As they switched to other topics, you calmly left the barracks. One goal in your mind. Tunnel focused as you headed in the direction of the kitchen. After such a long time, it would be like the good ol' times.
On the way, you bumped into Sasha. "Hey Y/n, where are you off to?"
"The kitchens. To steal some food."
She gasped. "Can I come with?!"
You smiled and patted her on the shoulder. "No need. I'll get you some. You should head back."
Sneaking into the kitchens was simple. You picked the lock, having learned it from your years in the orphanage. Inside, you rummaged through the drawers. When you came across the utensils, you picked out a knife. Checked if it was sharp enough by pricking your finger on it. Flipping it up and down by loosening your grip on the handle. Twirling it around in your fingers. Little tricks you taught yourself when you were little.
Before you left, you took a potato from the sack full of it and closed the door behind you. When you were back at the barracks, nearly everyone had gone to sleep. But it wasn't show time yet.
You climbed up the ladder of Mikasa and Sasha's bunk and set the potato next to Sasha's head. Even asleep, she seemed to smell it, smiling and hugging it.
Back in your bed, you laid in the darkness, wide awake. The knife under your pillow. Maybe a half and hour more until everyone's asleep, just to be safe.
Then it would be your show time.
. * . *
Everyone in your room was woken up by high-pitched squealing.
You rubbed your eyes and started getting ready with the new background noises.
"My hair! Where is my hair?!" They all cried as they felt their heads, feeling none of their long locks but short, jagged messes. Some buried their faces in their detached hair left on their beds, screaming and crying.
Mikasa caught your eye. She raised an eyebrow. You gave her a quick smile and got back to getting ready. You knew that she knew but she never questioned you. Because she knew you always had your reasons.
One girl grabbed a mirror out and screamed even louder than before. "My eyelashes?! They've disappeared!" Then they all sobbed when they realized none of their eyelashes were safe.
These girls cared more about their looks than their fleshes, so you knew you couldn't hurt them to their cores by cutting their skin up or something. When they were all asleep, you cut off all their locks and laid the hair all around their bed like flowers. But it felt too immature, too simple, too unfinished. So carefully, you clipped off all their eyelashes by using the tip of the knife pressed against the tip of your finger. It took you an hour and now there was a ring of bandages on your finger, but it was worth it.
"What the hell are you looking at?!" said Georgia, noticing your stare, turning the other girls' heads.
"Sorry, but you really can't blame me for being unable to ignore your patheticness. It's just so loud."
"It is not patheticâour hair has been defiled!"
"Please, it's just hair. It's not a big deal. And it looks fine to me, really brings out the beauty in all of you. Whoever did it must have great style," you said. "But you know, if you want to avoid something else like this, then maybe you should start watching your mouth a little. How does that sound? Good?"
Georgia's face fell. Then it twisted into ugly anger. "You bitchâyou did this, didn't you?!"
You scoffed, putting a hand to your collarbones, acting shocked by her audacity. "I'm giving you advice. You should be grateful someone's even helping you. And if you do want to be helped, start off by shutting the fuck up about who you talk about." Then you gave a sweet smile. "Okay, girls?"
You finished braiding your hair and put on your jacket. You could feel the hateful eyes of those girls. Good. Then Annie climbed down from her bunk. "Good morning," you greeted her.
She stared at you with an unreadable expression. Glanced at those distressed girls, then down at your bandaged finger. "Morning," she said. You two left for breakfast together.
Throughout the day, those girls talked shit about you to anyone who would listen. But really, they were just making a fool of themselves because no one could take them seriously when they looked like that. They even bore their complaints onto Shadis. He just yelled at them to quit badmouthing their comrade and go back to training.
Then you stumbled across them trying to talk to Eren. You leaned against the barn wall, listening around the corner.
"Y/n did this?"
"Yes! That's what we're trying to tell you," said Georgia. "This is the kind of things she does to her own friends. You have to stay away from her. She's insane!"
"Her friends?"
"Yes! All we did was chat with her, give her some pointers on how to be more likeable, then she got upset and did this to all of us! She's uncontrollable!"
I'd give you bonus points for creativity too in your lies if I were the Instructor.
"You really expect me to believe all of that?"
The girls went silent. You smirked. That's Eren.
"Noâdon't leave yet. Hear us out!"
"I won't. Y/n doesn't do things unprovoked. If she did do this, then you guys must've done something first. Something that pissed her off."
"You're standing on her side? Look at what she did to us! We don't even have our eyelashes! Eyelashes!"
"Listen, I really could care less about your eyelashes. And I will always stand on her side. So stop spitting these bullshit lies and just own up to whatever you guys had done wrong. It's not that hard."
You came out from around the corner. "Yeah, girls, own up to it. Better not make an enemy out of someone this insane, right? Who knows what she might do next?"
The girls had nothing to say except looked terrified. Georgia just glared at you. That was all someone as weak as her could do.
"Oh, and if you're looking for revenge against her, why don't you go over there to Reiner and Bertholdt and ask them who the twisted witch of southern Wall Maria was? I do hope that you make the best decisions for yourselves after that. For your own sakes, not mine."
You put an arm around Eren's neck and pulled him along. Turning your head around your shoulder, you watched with a smirk their baffled and hurt expressions as Eren put his arm around your waist. Stay in your place, your eyes told them.
"So you heard all of that?" he asked.
"You defending my honor? Yes."
"You don't need me defending you."
"No, but I appreciated it."
"So what actually did happen? You haven't done something like that in a while," he said. "I kind of missed it."
"They just said some things about our friends that I didn't like hearing. You know me, Eren. When somebody messes with me, messes with my friends, I come back ten times stronger."
He smiled. "That much we have in common."