The doors of the old manor creaked loudly. This noise was nostalgic in a way and as your booted shoes slipped onto the tile floor, you could smell a scent that once more brought a wave of nostalgia. It had been years since you were here. The scent of old books and cheap alcohol tugged you further into the building as a few servants brushed past you. 

(Y/n): Must be new.

Your mouth muttered softly before heading toward the room you knew would house the man requesting your presence. Truthfully you should have just skipped out on his invite but you know he wouldn't stop until you arrived to speak. Voices from the room ahead were varied though two were clear and crisp against your ears. You paused outside the room, spotting the cracked open door as the voices kept on with their mumbling conversation. You took a breath, smoothing your hair back before pushing the old door open to enter your Father's study.

The conversation died on their lips as you entered the eyes of the guests falling on you. Though these people weren't guests as you had expected instead it was two servants, your father and... hmm... so he made the trek here too. You pulled the door closed and took note of a familiar woman and older man. Sabine and Otto, though why they were here was strange to you.

(Y/n): By all accounts don't stop for me. I was having fun listening in anyway.

Father: I'm glad you can finally join us after your foolhardy injury. How are you faring, (Y/n)?

(Y/n): The stink of alcohol and shame is thick in this room and it's making me a bit sick. Do you think we could hurry this along?

???: Brother, there is no need to be so callous with our father.

His voice was a bit foreign after so long but still managed to drag on your nerves. You glanced to your left to see a much cleaner version of yourself. Well-groomed and wearing strapping new military attire that could only have come from the interior. 

(Y/n): Interesting to see you here as well August, tired of the interior hags already?

August closed his eyes and let out a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose before opening his blue eyes. The only difference between the two of you other than age. Mother's eyes never suited him really.

Sabine: Young master (Y/n) I beseech you to remember your manners. This si a simple meeting of family.

You managed to take a breath as your annoyed gaze swung across the room to the servants. 

(Y/n): Ah so Sabine and Otto have joined the family now? Interesting interesting. So why wasn't I-

Father: (Y/n). 

You brought your gaze back to your Father before quieting down. You wanted to be rid of this place as quickly as you wanted to remember your few fond memories.

Father: We are all busy individuals thus I will not waste time. Despite my best efforts, I have come into contact with an illness that... given time will kill me. I do not believe it is hereditary nor have I discovered any such cure. It could be due to my years of drinking or leisure smoking, or simply one final jab by fate, but it will not be long when I am gone from this land.

The news was... weird. How are you supposed to take it? A part of you was shocked while another was overjoyed. you would be rid of the man but... in the end, he was your father to a degree. He wasn't a caring one by any means but you were certainly not living in poverty. His influence leads you to the cadets and to your new associates and even... the scouts. Ah yes, that was occurring in a few shorts hours, right? Then...

August: You... you can't be serious?

August took the moment to step forward. He really did look like you in a way, though a bit taller. He was the older brother.

August: You simply bring us here and tell us you are dying like it's nothing?!

Otto: Master Burhardt wanted to gather us here to be the first to hear this information. We gathered in this room are all that know. 

Two servants hearing this knowledge makes sense in a way but it's just as strange. why servants and not extended family? You remember hearing of distant cousins and aunts and the like.

Father: With you gathered here, I will also declare my will.

August: What?! You can't... you can't seriously believe we will take this so lightly.

Father: I don't truly care how you take it. I'm doing this now so you will know of my intentions for my estate and assets. I don't need you two bickering like fools after my death nor do I want our extended family to try and snatch what I've worked for out from under me.

 Otto moved to a bookshelf opposite of his position next to your Father's desk and took out a book. He flipped through the pages before revealing that the book was in fact a fake, pulling a document from within it. The room grew deathly silent as Otto returned to your Father's side and placed the document before him on the desk. 

Father: Read it for me, Otto.

The older man paused for a moment before nodding, lifting the document into the light before clearing his throat.

Otto: This bears the will of Burhadt (L/n), disclosing his last wishes in the event of his death. I've never been one for these drawn-out documents thus I will get right to the point.

It sounded strange for Otto to speak so plainly but it was clear it was your Father that wrote this instead of Otto typing it for him.

Otto: To my son August (L/n) I leave a small share of my fortune and the knowledge that he carried himself with a passion and ambition that always allowed me to be proud. 

August seemed to have a blank look on his face. He didn't seem happy or sad, but he didn't seem well pleased.

Otto: August please leave the room for this next section.

August: Pardon? Why must I leave?

Otto: The master wills in it before this next passage.

August: Is this my brother's section? Why must I leave? He didn't leave duri-

Father: I said leave the damn room boy! 

August bit his tongue and begrudgingly nodded, giving a soft glare of sorts to you as he brushed past.

Father: Sabine, ensure the door is closed.

The girl nodded and walked past you to the door, ensuring it was closed before turning back to those gathered, ensuring the door remained closed.

Father: Otto.

Otto: To my son (Y/n), I know I never cared for you as a Father should but in the end, I hope what I lacked to give you in life I can give you... in death. To you my son, I give my estate and all servants. the rest of my fortune will also fall to your discretion to be outside August's control. However, I will only gift this on three accounts. First, after my funeral host the largest masquerade you can muster, secondly ensure the count of every mask if you note more or less than 50 masks detailing a- Young master?

(Y/n): You... you really want to make your amends this way?

Father: Son-

(Y/n): Don't call me son. You made my life a living hell, and yet for some reason, you decide to skirt past your favored son and gift me the world? I refuse to stand for this.

Sabine: (Y/n) please lis-

(Y/n): Saine, Otto I care for you both but I have somewhere else I need to be. Please step aside.

Sabine took a moment to glance at you before moving aside. You turned to the door and took a breath, allowing your legs to carry you forward out of the room. As you hand grasped the handle your Father spook.

Father: At least thank me for the cane you ungrateful brat.

The words pushed your nerves over the edge, but you didn't have the time nor energy to bark at the dying man. You pulled the door open casually, stepping out and brushing past a curious August toward the location of a planned assembly.

You arrived much later than you had planned, though it seemed you managed to slip in as the other cadets gathered to listen to Erwin Smith, leader of the scouts. He began his speech, recalling why we must fight the titans, and somewhere along the line you heard about Eren and a basement. You didn't want this speech to be so bland but your mind couldn't help but race. Your Father was dying and leaving you everything he had done pretty much. Why? Why?! The man infuriated you to no end but... you wanted answers. You should have stayed to listen but what would that serve anyway? A masquerade? You had planned to celebrate in your own way but a grand party? What was the old fool talking about?

Erwin: If you are still willing to endanger your lives with us, remain here. Please, ask yourselves. Are you capable of offering your lives for mankind?!

The air grew silent, everyone contemplating their place in life as your own mind was filled with various thoughts and fears. Joining the scouts was basically a death sentence, but you didn't want to be in your Father's grasp. To know pure safety behind the walls or freedom in the face of death? You had been so decided just weeks ago and now your brain was frying itself over to live or die. Did you even want to die for the sake of humanity? Just so the snobs of the interior can spit down on those below them? Was it worth your life for them?

Erwin: That is all. Those of you who wish to enlist elsewhere may leave.

The words left the commander's lips and it didn't take long for the stragglers to begin leaving. They slipped past you here and there, one bumping into your shoulder as your muscles still found themselves arguing to leave or stay. What were your friends going to do? You hadn't asked them. What would they do? What would Connie and Sasha do? You just... It was then your (E/c) gaze landed on a familiar blonde slipping away with the other soldiers. Annie... Her eyes lifted to meet yours and for a moment it seemed like she might freeze or stay, but she simply lowered her gaze, brushing past you. Though it could have been your imagination, it felt like she tugged on your sleeved elbow softly as she passed. More and more cadets began turning and leaving, causing your throat to go dry. You hated this! Why couldn't you just make a damn choice?! You were so resolute weeks ago! That was... before you nearly died in Trost. Why should you risk your life again? You weren't even hurt by a titan by a broken window! Why should... Your ragged breathing filled your ears along with the sound of your quickened heartbeat as the cadets pushing past you felt like a current now.  Leave. Stay. Leave. Stay. Make a damn choice! Your eyes lifted again and you could see your... your comrades. Connie... Sasha... Christa and that Ymir girl. Armin and Mikasa and even others. They were... staying? No n-no they should leave! It would be safer for them to leave and yet they were prepared to die. 

(Y/n): T-The scouts... I'm... I won't let them die. I promised I wouldn't but... why is it so scary? I can't breathe and yet I-I need to stay strong for them.

You managed to straighten your back staring forward as the last of the cadets leaving brushed past you, leaving a handful of individuals and your comrades.

Erwin: Could you die if given the order to?

???: We don't want to die!

Erwin: I see.

You were joining the scouts. No turning back here. You could grind your heels into the dirt and yet you were to grow a pair of wings and join your friends. 

Erwin: Now then, I accept all of you that remain as new Survey Corps soldiers! This will be a true salute! Offer your lives!

Your arm moved by its own accord, your right hand slinging across your chest to rest in a fist over your heart.

Cadets: Sir!

You didn't know how you were doing it. Maybe the years of being with your Father taught you to suppress the ever-growing fear and emotions in your chest. It felt like everything would seep out but as you watched the stoic forms of your friends and their resolute forms, you had to stand tall with them. Even from behind, they were so brave. As Erwin dismissed the gathered cadets, the strong visage shattered. Emotions began to flare as the newly inducted scouts began to wander off, save for your comrades. Sasha and Connie began to shake, a newfound fear overtaking them. 

Connie: The survey corps...

Sasha: I can't... I want to go home...

Sasha shuddered softly, feelings of home and fear filling her core. Connie felt much the same fear. Suddenly a hand descended and rested on their heads. 

Connie: O-Oi what are...

Sasha turned and saw you. You gave a closed-eyed smile, rustling Sahsa hair, and Connie's stubble. 

(Y/n): I know it's scary but... we can do this. Just stick with me and I'll keep you two safe.

Sasha couldn't believe it. How could you remain so calm? She felt like she would fall apart at any moment, but as you opened your eyes, her brown hues could see the bottled-up fear. you were putting up a facade for them. Sasha took a moment before pressing her head further into your hand. Connie removed the hand but placed a hand on your shoulder.

Connie: Y-Yeah. We can do this. We just have to stick together!

Sasha: Yeah! We... we can do this.

(Y/n): I promise, I will keep you two safe as long as I'm able. Just...

Sasha: Just... what?

(Y/n): Give me extra food from your rations as payment.

Sasha: No way!

Connie: Fat chance!

Laughter filled the group as Sasha once more took a look into your eyes. You were still scared but she could appreciate trying to take their minds off of this. She really liked that about you. But... there was no way you were getting anything from her rations!

And with that, fledgling scouts were brought about, choices that would change the fate of this land. With your fate now tied to that of the 104th, you were as much a part of this as they. With emotions flaring and intrigue growing, only time will tell if the upcoming expedition will mark a new change for you or act as your burial in the name of brief freedom.