"Hey! Aik! Wait up!" Brooke picked up her pace to catch up to her brother.

"Heh. You're so slow, Brooke!" he said, laughing. She fake pouted.

"Awww. You're so mean, Aik!" He laughed again, rubbing his knuckles into her head. "It's not my fault that your legs are so long!" It was true. Although Brooke was a little taller than average, Aiken towered over her. At least, that's how it felt sometimes.

"Well, with any luck, the maneuver gear'll stretch you out!" he replied, pretending to stretch her arms.

"AHAHAHAH AIK! AIK, STOP AHAHA!" Damn Aik knowing that the inside of her elbow was extremely ticklish... Suddenly, he swept her up and put her on his shoulder, fireman style. "AAAIIIIIIKKK!!!!" She lightly pounded her fists into his back, blurred through the tears of laughter. Well, at least it's more decent than if I was wearing a dress like at home...she thought.

Eventually, he let her down, both breathless from laughing. Suddenly, he winced the tiniest little bit, so small of an action that even if you were looking for it, you probably wouldn't see it. Brooke wagged her finger at him.

"Aiiiikkk. You know you shouldn't have done that after training!" They had tackled hand-to-hand combat that day, and even though he had won all of the matches, his partner had gotten in a pretty nasty blow to Aiken's shoulder.

"You have to be more careful about these things! What if there's a surprise test and you mess up because you made a little injury worse?!?!" Aiken chuckled.

"Oi, Rook. You sound like Mum." He turned around and winked at her, grinning. "Plus, you know I wouldn't let a little thing like an injury get in my way." Brooke smiled. It was true--although Aiken was the most honourable, kind people she knew, he was so hardheaded you could use his skull as a battering ram and he probably wouldn't feel a thing.

"Just...be careful out there, will you?" she said, sighing. She, although it was a cliche, wouldn't know what to do without Aiken. Ever since her mother had brought Brooke home from the local doctor, still pink and blind like a puppy, she and Aiken had been inseparable. They had their fights, but anyone who knew them even in the least knew nothing could truly get between the two.

Aiken winked.

"When have I ever not been, little sis?" Brooke smirked, the mischievous spirit igniting within her.

"Is that a challenge?" Aiken's grin widened.

"I think it is. Bring it." He did a mock defense stance, legs wide-set, lifting an open palm behind his chest as if he was going to do a palm strike and curling a finger towards him as if they were figjting. Brooke smiled slyly, extending her fingers to count on.

"That time you used a pot lid to ride down a hill. The time you did it a second time because you were convinced you had been sabotaged the first time by an invisible squirrel." Aik jolted, making a sound reminiscent of 'urk!' "The time you broke your arm trying to get a better view of the returning Recon Corps. From the roof." Aiken pretended to be plussed.

"Hey! You have to admit, we got a pretty good view of Captain Levi and Commander Erwin!" Brooke chuckled.

"That wasn't Erwin, that was just some blonde guy. I'm pretty sure he was sniffing the guy beside him, too... And yes, we did get to see Levi. And I got to see the look he gave when you fell." Aik brightened.

"What did his face look like?" He was almost bouncing--a habit he had when he was super excited. Brooke smirked again, a mildly evil glint in her eye.

"He 'tch'ed, then aaaaalllllmmmmooooooossssssttttt smirked and continued riding."

"Hmph." Aik's face hardened in determination. "I'll show him! Someday, I'll earn Captain Levi's respect!" Brooke smiled, then realized what it implied.

"You know that I'd follow you anywhere. But... You really mean to join the Recon Corps?"

"Maybe. But what I really want to do is save the innocent lives being taken by the Titans--by stamping out every one." Brooke giggled quietly. That was exactly like Aik--running into a situation with conviction and no plan whatsoever. "Anyway, we should just focus on getting through training! That Shardis..." His clenched fist shook as he twitched in rage.

"C-calm down, Aik!" Brooke held on to his shoulder, willing him to cool off. It was true, though--Aik had almost smashed his fist right through the instructor's face when he had insulted his hometown. It was a good thing Brooke had been there to remind him that it probably wasn't the best idea.

Aik smiled thinly, calm almost regained. Then he broke out into a grin, albeit a wavering, brimming on icy one. Then the smile thawed, and Aik was back.

"Heh. You've always been my better half, Rook!"