It's been a few days since we arrived at boot camp today's the day we do the aptitude test, and of course, we begin the lesson with Grandpa Shadis yelling at us.

"It's aptitude test time, so listen up. There is no place for you here if you cannot perform! Fail, and be shipped to the fields. Alright, we'll start with four of you, Cadets, Leonhart, Zoe, Arlelt, and Hoover!" Shadis shouts looking down on all us cadets.

We walk up to the rigs as they place the restrictive straps around our waste, I sigh getting on as I'm raised and I start swinging back and forth having fun with the test.

Shadis glares at me in particular. "Zoe! What are you doing?"

I grin. "Having fun sir!"

"Well stop that!"

"This test is to see who's naturally gifted at using the ODM gear and I'm proving that I can use the gear even whilst under difficult circumstances." I say smugly knowing he can't counter without just pulling ranks.

"You're just like your sister, you know that cadet Zoe?" He says frustrated at my antics.

"My sister and I are similar yes, but we do differ." I say matter of factly.

Shadis steps forward. "No talk back Cadet!"

I lean back lazily. "Yes sir." As we're let down he quietly allows me to go to my workshop early. I hurry trying to leave without any attention as he calls out the next batch of cadets. When I arrive, I hurriedly place on the wrist gear. When I turn around to grab the screw driver to place them on I see blonde hair and piercing blue eyes staring into my soul. Annie.

"H-Hey, Annie. Wh... What are you doing here?" I ask nervously, backing away from her my hand firmly on a pair of pliers.

"The better question would be what are you doing in this workshop?"

I sigh and lean back. "I'm working on some of my projects for the scouts. You... you shouldn't be here. If Gra- Instructor Shadis sees you, not only will you be in trouble but I could get banned from working on my stuff. Please tell me no one followed you?"

Annie shakes her head, and I relax. "No. no one followed me."

"Oh thank the walls." I say in relief. "Well, since you're here, hand me the screwdriver." I order her and turn to my gear. She begins to act before I hear her stop, before I can ask what the delay is about, I get my answer.

"Marcel, why is she here?" Shadis asks having entered the room.

"Gra- Instructor Shadis... She's... my... uh..." I struggle to think of a good excuse that'll keep her here in the cadet corps.

"He asked for an assistant in case of emergencies in the workshop and I volunteered."

I nod nervously, hoping he'd accept the answer. "Yep. That's exactly it. She's my assistant."

"Well hurry up. I've chosen you to demonstrate the final aptitude test for the others tomorrow. You need to be well rested, also, give me that flask."

I grab the flask from my pocket and hand it t9 the Commandant. "Please, don't tell sis about it."

Shadis hums. "Fine..." He takes a swig from the flask. "...but, I'll be taking some of that wine."

"Yes, sir."

Shadis then exits the room as I exhale a breath I had apparently been holding in. Annie looks to me in what looks like a smug grin on her usually expressionless face

"We'll be seeing more of each other then."

I nod closing my eyes. "I guess so." I smile to her as she looks down at me while I resume maintenance on the wrist wires making sure they're just as stable as the waist launched wires. My design is a wrist launched hook that allows for the user to choose to fire either from the hip or wrist. I'm hoping to eventually remove the need for the hip launcher all together. It's a prototype for now, but it should be good. I disconnect the blade hilts placing them within the chest I close it and lock it and prepare to head out when Annie stops me.

Annie looks at my wrists. "Aren't you going to take those off?"

"Not right now, I'm trying to get used to wearing these regularly so I need to wear them when I sleep and while I eat." I answer her. My voice is hushed so very few people can hear me.

When it comes time for dinner I sit with Annie while I take notes in my journal about my fellow recruits. Notes on Mikasa, Eren, Annie and so on.

"So, what is on that page?"

"Nothing, I also use it my notebook to take notes on interesting things."

Annie's eyebrow raises slightly a glint in her eye. "Interesting things? Like what?"

"Well, mr. loud mouth over there has found a way in." I say directing her attention to Eren Jaeger who failed his aptitude training today.

Eren Jaeger,
from Shinganshina,
age likely 12 or 13,
goal... to kill all the titans.

"Who else has made it?" Annie asks.

"Armin, Mikasa, Loren, Myself, Hange, Captain Shorty... and Annie."

Annie looks at the journal. "Even me? What did you write about me?"

"I, uh... I'd rather save that for later."

Annie looks directly at me. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. I um... don't exactly want to tell everything in this book."

"It's a shame you wanted a page on Eren, I don't think he'll make it." She says looking back to the cadet with steam exiting from his head.

"Yeah... If he's not up to it by tomorrow... he'll be dropped. A shame, I could've seen him going places." The bell to go to sleep rings gathering the attention of all the cadets. "Well that's the bell."

"Stay just for a moment." Annie says.

"Okay?" Everyone starts walking away as she and I sit in silence,

"What... is your opinion on titans?" She asks.

"They're... fascinating. Now, I have to keep hushed about this, but, I have a few theories."

Annie raises her eyebrow. "Why do you need to be hushed about this?"

"I know of some people who've died for having similar theories." I tell her grimly.

Annie nods slightly. "I see."

I speak quietly as to not arouse suspicion. "I don't think that humanities done beyond the walls. Truthfully, I think there are other civilizations out there. Who they are or what they are, I don't know, but I do believe that they've found a way to survive even with the titans."

"Is that so?" She asks.

"I also believe that somehow, everyone inside the walls is connected... how I don't know, but there's got to be something connecting everyone inside the walls."

Annie nods. "Okay then."

"Well, that's all for tonight... it was... nice speaking with you." I say standing.I'm ready for some sleep.

Annie gives a light smile. "You too."

She walks away and I can't help but be mesmerized by her features. Her nice blonde hair, her eyes that could pierce the heavens themselves if she wanted. I shake my head and start walking to the boys cabin. Uponentry I find Eren asking Connie and Jean for help who are doing nothing but taunting him. When I enter I get a round of cheers from everyone but Reiner, and what looks like a slight glare from Bertholdt.

Jean grins. "To the boy who got the dream early!"

"Come again?" I ask.

Jean lays an arm over my shoulder. "So? How'd you do it?"

"Do what?"

Connie grins standing next to me. "Come on, you don't need to play dumb, how'd you get Annie in only a few days."

"Get Annie?" Oh no, need to end this now. "No, no, don't get me wrong she's very attractive but that's not what it is."

Marco sits in his bed. "Well, what are you?"

"Friends. That's it." I say honestly, what the hell conclusion did they jump to? "Alright, I'm going to sleep." I say frankly done with the conversation.

The burning in my cheeks doesn't stop as I hurriedly race for my bed and bury myself in the sheets. What is this feeling? I don't think I've felt this way. I'm sure it'll be gone in a while but for now... I open my notebook and go to my notes on Annie and begin writing some stuff

Annie Leonhardt
Likely age 13 or 14
blonde hair
blue eyes
from... unknown.

I close the journal and hide it in my pillow before going to sleep after hearing Eren sneak out with Reiner & Bertholdt.

The following morning we're lined up in front of Grandpa Shadis as he stands in front of a single one of the things for the aptitude test. However, a few of us seem to notice the person behind him. He looks like a new recruit for the Military Police. But... why would an MP be here?

"Today you will be taking the aptitude test. Originally, I had chosen who was going to demonstrate the test however the Military Police has decided to have one of its members. This man is the 1 graduate of the 100th Cadet Corps and will be your superior should you choose to join the Trost District Military Police. Nico Harms."

I glance around briefly as Annie who's next to me seems to have her eyes wide in shock along with Reiner and Bertholdt her aren't that far away from us.

Nico steps forward with a glare. "Thank you, Instructor. Listen up Cadets, you'll want to hear this. There is no fancy trick or fancy idea that will get you to pass this test. As I'm about to demonstrate you simply need to focus on balance. Maintain a sense of control in your center. After that let your legs relax a bit and don't worry about dangling. It is rather simple if your gear is correctly on and not broken. My corps had a few drop outs due to malfunctioning gear. Though hard to overcome it is doable."

My eyebrow raises as he mentions the broken gear. It's as if he knows some of us has broken gear. I pull out my notebook and begin writing details down, also taking notes on Nico Harms himself.

Nico Harms.
Dirty Blonde Hair
Light Blue Eyes
Nico Harms is a member of the Military Police and graduated Number 1 in the 100th Cadet Corps making him at least four years older than us. He appears before the rookies of the 104th cadet corps to demonstrate the aptitude test for 3d movement.

Annie stands next to me and looks at the journal. "Are you seriously taking notes now?"

I nod, finishing the note. "Yes. It's best to learn about your superiors early and make sure you remember their names. You planning on joining the Military Police?"

Annie slowly nods her head. "Yeah." She says softly, we're trying to not attract attention.

"Then I'd recommend you remember his name like it's the back of your hand."

Annie glares at the MP. "I already have."

I hum, noting of her glare. Wonder what's happened to her to cause that level of fierceness. "Neat."

We then watch as Nico shows us how to do the test and the requirements. I continue taking notes as he gets off and begins calling students one at a time. Instead of going by last name like I expected they went by first name.

"Annie Leonhart." It's one of the first names he calls.

Annie steps up and does the test easily and her gaze remains somewhat focused on Nico... I don't know why, but the longer her gaze lingered on him I felt a slight tinge of pain where my heart should be. I ignore this for now and return to the test and my notes.

"Armin Arlelt." Nico calls.

I write on my notes who passes and fails for the most part.

Annie Leonhart; Passed (Easily)
Armin Arlelt; Passed (With Difficultly)
Bertholdt Hoover; Passed (Easily)
Connie Springer; Passed (With Difficulty)
Christa Lenz; Passed (Barely)
Eren Jaeger; Passed (Belt Buckle on Gear was broken otherwise he Passed easily)
Hanna Diament; Passed
Jean Kirschtein; Passed (Easily)
Loren Schulz; Passed

After Loren it is my turn and I quickly get my belt connected and I notice a slight look of confusion from Nico when he read my name. Must be from where Annie and the other two are from. I easily pass the test continuing to take my notes while airborne I look up as Instructor Shadis is about to yell at me when he stops as Nico raises a hand.

"What are you doing?" Shadis growls.

"He's demonstrating how comfortable he is in the air. If you can focus on something else while also doing this training that just proves you're born for this." Nico says with a smile, a grin he keeps up, one he's had for a while, his gaze remains affixed to me.

I'm let back down and I go stand with the others and return to writing down the names of those who passed, or rather those who've piqued my interest.

Marcel Zoe;Passed (Easily)
Marco Bodt; Passed
Milieus Zeremski; Passed
Mina Carolina; Passed
Reiner Braun; Passed
Sandra Froul; Passed
Sasha Braus; Passed
Thomas Wagner; Passed
Ymir; Passed

And while that's not everyone who passed those are the ones who caught my interest. After the test, I look for Annie so we can head to the workshop, however it seems she's nowhere around. I sigh a bit of disappointment in that sigh as I head to the workshop and I get back to designing. I also then grab the flask, however when I take it out I notice the letter drop as well. I open it up and begin to read it, this being the first time I've read it since when I met sis. I barely get to start when the door opens and Annie enters with Nico Harms.

"Annie! Instructor Shadis doesn't want too many people in here." I scold, keeping my wrist gear hidden. "And you can't just invite someone without my permission."

Nico raises a brow. "And you are?"

"Marcel Zoe, Sir. Younger brother of the Scouting Regiments Hange Zoe."

Nico raises an eyebrow. "Hange Zoe? You don't look like her."

"I'm... I was adopted sir. The scouts adopted me after finding in the aftermath of Wall Maria's fall. I had no home, no memories, and no family. They took me in. Hange and Erwin took me in."

Nico hums leaning back. "I see. And do you plan to go back to them?"

"Yes sir. My goal in life is to join the scouts and learn the secrets of the titans sir. Gaining both an understanding of them for humanity and gaining land for us, sir."

Nico hums and nods impressed. "I see. And what are those?" He points at my wrist gear, while asking his question.

"Oh this is my prototype gear. I'm not supposed to let many people know about these, sir. I'm sorry that's all I'm allowed to say by order of Instructor Shadis."

"I see... well Mr. Zoe good luck with your goal. I too have one and I only hope I can see it through." He compliments me, with a smile it's warm like he actually respect me.

I bow before turning back to my work. "Thank you, sir." Nico leaves the room and I take a deep breath catching Annie off guard as I fold in on myself.

Annie looks down at me, crouched down taking a deep breath. "Marcel?" She asks.

I look up to her with the fact that I was afraid for my life was probably very obvious to her. Her look of worry though... it's one I don't think I ever want to see again. She then smiles when she notices that I'm okay and gives a soft hug before helping me to the mess hall but not before I lock the door and window to the room.

"You really should stop holding your breath when your nervous." She says with a smile.

I chuckle slightly. "S-Sorry... " I'm happy to say that being around her... it's... wonderful.

Chapter End.

Episodes covered in chapter: S1, E3