I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I SHARED MY FIRST CUP OF TEA WITH YOU

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I remember much of the first time I stepped into the headquarters of the scouting regiment clad in a tanned jacket, white buttoned shirt and high knee boots that was also what my companions were dressed in. I remember much how Isabel looked so invested in the uniform, it is the most expensive and to what she referred to 'coolest' looking thing she and us have ever worn.

It was not that I denied the fact of the perk of what I called forcefully joining the scouts and earning a new clean-cut looking uniform that these sunlighters wore. Farlan only grinned at me checking out the new uniform he was looking at as we walked down the hallway.

"Big Bro! Don't I look cool?!" Isabel jubilantly expressed as she bounced down the hallway.

"Keep going and you'll give me a headache," I uttered then gave a sigh.

"You always have a headache," Farlan mocked quietly to Isabel.

"You were saying something?" I say raising a brow.

"Nothing," he smirked.

"Remember why we're here," I remind them as they all hushed.

We needed to murder Erwin.

"Big bro! We need to enjoy ourselves while we're here! You know, we gain the trust of other members!"

"Fine, just don't get to attached," I add.

She was right, and Isabel was young and needed to enjoy herself before she could finally succumb to our life's reality.

"Also guess what," Isabel piped.

"What?" Furlan inquired.

"You know how I have to sleep in girl's dormitories, that lieutenant girl took me in," she smiles.

"Tsk," I mutter.

"Big bro, don't be like that! She seems really cool-!"

"I'm glad you think that," someone interrupts as we run into the girl who got lucky a day ago.

"Hey! It's you!" Isabel chimes pointing with her hand to the female in front of us who bore an expressionless face.

If I only knew back then or was less stubborn I would have admitted earlier how handsome she looked, far too much for someone of this class or time. Though she was shorter than the other soldiers I found for a sunlighter, she was quite pale with the most alluring eyes of blue that looked more like jewels. Pink platinum hair cascaded effortlessly down to her shoulders, brushing under slightly over her brown jacket. Again, she looked far too pretty for one to call a soldier even though she pinned me down -luckily- yesterday.

"I'm lieutenant Young if you could follow me, I'll you around while I take you outside," she said.

"We don't need your sympathy," I remarked crossing my arms.

"Levi," Furlan scolded, "Sorry for him."

"Please, it's alright. And may I add, do not mistake sympathy for pity nor an opportunity as you're first. It will be seen as your last, and if abuse it, I assure you we have no problem handing you instead to the military police. They're quite welcoming, more than us," she chastised.

Tch.

"If you could show us," Furlan breaks the tension as we follow her as she points out a few rooms.

"So how long have you been in the scouts?" Isabel asks.

"Six-seven years," she answers not bothering to turn back, "Recruited when I was sixteen."

"Recruited?" Furlan questions.

"Commander Shadis recruited me," she states bluntly.

"Where from-,"

"Isabel!" Furlan scolds.

"It's alright-, oh commander," she halts as a gruff-looking brunette haired male stands in front of her.

"I'll take them from here Lieutenant Young, meet me in my office," he states as she only nods and walks in an opposite direction.

---

"Attention all! From today, these three will be fighting alongside you all! Introduce yourselves!" Shadis announces as I only grunt not saying anything as I look at Erwin who only glares at me to answer.

"Levi," I only say as everyone exchanges looks from my response.

"Levi... the first thing you'll need to know is you need some goddamn discipline," he admonishes as I don't flinch, uninterested in every word he says, "Next," he says in a dismissive tone as Isabel steps forward and breaths in.

"I'm Isabel Magnolia! Nice ta meetcha!" she points with her thumb at her and smiles.

"My name is Furlan Church!" the male on my right declares.

"Flagon, these three will be assigned to your squad, look after them," the commander states as the so-called 'Flagon' flinches.

"M-my squad, sir?" he stammers.

I'm assigned to him?

"Are you dissatisfied?"

"N-no..."

"Is that understood?"

"Yes sir!" he salutes as the Shadis walks away and Flagon glares at me.

Well, fvck you too-

---

Adaline had always told me that even beforehand she had always received offers of taking a higher position, how she wasn't ready to be instructed to lead or be responsible for the lives of others. How though she could have led earlier she rather followed.

Adaline waited as she saw Shadis approach and salute him.

"At ease Lieutenant," he dismissed as he opened the door to his office, "With me."

Following him, Adaline sat down on the seat adjacent to his on the other side of the desk with one side half a stack of papers and a feather and ink on the other.

"Is there anything wrong sir?" she inquired.

"No, well somewhat. I still don't see you-, well hearing Captain or even commander Young," he puts his elbows onto the desk and intertwines his fingers.

"Sir, again with all due respect I believe I'm not capable of such a role yet," she states.

"You're ready Miss Young, you have both the capability and mentality, I don't understand why. You have the respect of Erwin and you're comrades to do so," he states.

"Sir, though you may see these traits in me I don't think me personally I am ready to hold responsible for the lives of people I've fought with, teach with nor perhaps consider family. On the outside sir, I perhaps may look like I could take it, to myself however I find myself in a state whether I can move on from such things."

Shadis only stays silent thinks. "You're right Miss young, war is such a thing one cannot have such have emotions. Attachment can be such a and can be seen as a bad trait but I assure you, Adaline, grieving is a sign of honour for the fallen. It's not a bad thing Adaline. But I understand where you come from, I've seen soldiers scared to become attached or lose their loved ones lose themselves," he smiles. "Again, Miss young, the offer is here when you're ready."

"Thank you, sir," she thanked as she stands up and salutes as she makes her way to the door.

"Also Adaline," he says.

"Sir?"

"Those three, please keep an eye on them."

"I'll do till I see fit."

---

Adaline's eyes opened revealing her blurry vision of her tall brunette friend staring at her from her lower bunk as awaited -creepingly I must say- for her friend to wake up. Finally, her vision cleared, her eyes widened to see the close proximity of her friend smiling, leaning her head on the edge of the mattress.

"Gah!" Adaline yelped as she punched Hange in the face making Hange yelp in result.

"OW! Good morning to you too!" Hange groaned holding her nose.

"What in all of Rose Maria are you staring there for?! I swear if you say this is a science experiment of yours I swear on the heavens that I will drop your journal of your's about titans down wall Shiniga and burn it!" Adaline threatened, trying to process the events that happened so early. My Addy was never the one to rise too early unless necessary.

"ADDY!" Hange cried.

"What do you want?! It's my day off!" Adaline groaned.

"What do you mean?! You have paperwork-,"

"Later! Ugh, Hange! Go away!" she pushed her face with her hand.

"Ow! My nose still hurts!" Hange whined.

"Good!" Adaline had covered herself under the covers.

"But we have to see the new recruits train!" Hange whined shaking Adaline's shoulders as she groaned in response.

"Too early," she yawned in response, "I thought you were going to chop Erwin's d1ck or something?"

"I value my life, I find Erwin much scarier than titans-,"

"You find everything much better than titans," Adaline chuckled.

"Not true, you're much better than titans~"

"Aww," Adaline pinched her cheeks.

"So will you come with me?" Hange did puppy eyes as Adaline scowled.

"Moment ruined," the platinum pink female chided as she went back to lying down.

"Please!"

"No!"

"Please! Please! Please! Please! Please! Please! Please! Please! Please! Please! Please! Please-!"

"For heaven's sake fine!" Adaline burst out of her bed as Hange grinned in success as she marched happily out the door. Groaning Adaline had changed into her uniform fixing her hair into a loose ponytail, Adaline made her usual route to the kitchen where she gave small nods and waves to the passing soldiers she met on her route.

I recollect that day, that time meeting Adaline for the third time when I looked through the cabinets. Tea, herbs, pretty dainty cup was a privilege one could never indulge themselves in the underground. I myself, only exposing myself once to such a privilege once or twice to tea; the first time shattering the cup I held from the handle and the second once with Isabel and Furlan on a special occasion from a successful mission we completed.

Surely, these sunlighters would have such a delicacy to something they would believe to be simple as a cup of tea.

"Are you looking for the tea?" a honeyed voice asks as I pivot from where I stand to find Adaline so peacefully standing there.

"I must appal your soldiers' lack of organisation to organise such a simple cabinet, just to find tea," I bicker as Adaline only let out a small smile letting fade as she walked past me.

"Follow me," she only says.

"Why?"

"You wanted tea right?" she tilts her head as I only concede and follow her to a corner of the kitchen with a small room with one rack of jars of spices. Getting a small knife she delicately traces a brick from the wall as she slides it out revealing a small box as she opens it that sections itself into different colours of herbed tea bags.

"Which one?" she asks looking up as my eyes soften to see the types and variety of tea.

"I- I don't know," I only speak as I scold myself for not giving a proper answer.

Adaline only chuckles as my heart flutters at the smile. Again, I was so young and unaware.

"Well, for the morning I usually it's best to have oolong to start off a day. Do you want me to make you some?" she requests as I stand there in silence.

"I- I suppose," I mutter as she smiles softly and picks out two bags and puts the box away with the brick, "Keep this our little secret," she winks.

---

Never in my life, I had felt so at peace. The whips of steam rose from the tea as the smell resonated softly, dimly dancing a whole piece as soft morning ribbon hues managed to slip through by the window we sat at.

Though at the time I had believed I felt peace because of the tea, it was Adaline the reason why I felt so at peace.

"Are you still mad?" the female asks as I only raise a brow.

"Mad at what?"

"Mad from before, I pinned you down," she recounts as I recall two days ago.

"Oh, not really," I reply, "Though, you got lucky."

"Wow," Adaline scoffs, "I don't miss thank you very much."

"You got lucky," I bluntly reiterate.

"Sure," she rolls her eyes trying not to smirk as I take a sip of tea and she tilts her head.

"What?"

Adaline only chuckles as she mimics how I drink my tea without using the handle as I only make a tch noise.

"Are you mocking me?"

"It's cute," she chuckles.

"not."

"Very cute," she rearranges her fingers to hold the cup as she usually does.

"When I was younger the first time I drank tea, it shattered cause I held it like how you usually do," I explain, so easily I may add.

"Oh," Adaline lets out as she gazes at the window and smiles and turns back to me, "You training today?"

"Not like I have a choice," he grumbles.

"Have they showed you the stables yet?" Adaline quipped, "You know picked a horse?"

"No."

"Well, I think you'll like it then, there's something about horses and us. Meant to ride free like we're meant to live, yet were trapped like cattle inside these walls. Used or distressed under war," Adaline says with something poetic in her tone as she smiles staring at the tea.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" I blurt out but keep my composure as Adaline looks up from her tea and thinks.

"Let's just say I haven't had a cup of tea with someone before."