*Present Time*

"I can't believe it..." Erwin stared down at the wooden table with wide eyes, and I just kept my eyes glued to the far wall.
"I barely survived the fall. If Dimitri hadn't taken the brunt of the landing, neither of us would have survived..." I murmured vacantly. "I used his body as a shield for three days before I managed to tear myself away. Back then, barely anyone stood on top of the walls...so I just used what I had read in books to somehow keep myself alive..."

"Right then..." Levi stood abruptly and almost slammed his teacup down; on a coaster of course, and started off towards the door.
"Levi, where are you going..?" Erwin stood to follow, and the ravonette spun around and looked at him with sharp, narrowed eyes.
"I'm calling for their arrest. Where else would I be going?"

"Don't bother..." They both turned to me looking taken aback, but I kept my composure. I didn't want to cry anymore.
"Excuse me..?" Levi backtracked and came to a stop a few feet away, but I simply stared at his leather boots.
"It's been years. There's no point anymore. I just don't want to see them, that's all there is to it..." I traced the handle of my untouched cup with my index finger. "It's actually kind of startling that you would believe me over a captain, anyway..."

My reflexes caused me to jerk away when Erwin tried to place his hand on my knee, but he didn't seem offended by it.
"I should probably let you know..." He took a deep breath and released it slowly. "...Captain Clifford (L/N) was one of the many soldiers killed when Wall Maria fell." The way he looked at me so expectantly made me feel uncomfortable, but I hid it away. If I didn't hide everything in that moment, I would have collapsed.

"Am I supposed to care..?" I did. I was overcome with relief and anguish, but it was all being forced back down into the very depths of my gut. "Let them live out their lives, and let me live out mine...away from here..."
"As I stated before...that decision isn't entirely our call, (Y/N). But, for the time being, you will be under the watch of both Captain Levi here, as well as Keith Shadis, who runs the Training Corps program..." I could tell Erwin was trying to sound comforting, but his choice had left me boiling with anger and bubbling with fear.

"E..excuse me..? Training Corps..? Under watch..?!" I scooted as far away from both of them as I could as I shook my head violently. "N..no! There's no way I'm going to le-"
"You don't get to decide that, brat. From this moment forth, you're in my command, and you will begin your training to become a member of the Scout Regiment. Somehow, you survived almost a decade outside of the walls, and your knowledge will be a damn good weapon for our cause. All we need is for Premier Zachary to accept our proposal, and you'll be a fully fledged member." Levi leaned in and captured my eyes with his dark, almost demeaning stare. "You better prepare, kiddo...This is going to be one hell of a training course..."

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"C'mon, don't look at me like that, kid...It wasn't my call..." I continued to shoot daggers at Gunther as he accompanied me towards my obvious demise. The cadet mess hall. "There are some good cadets here, so don't worry so much!"
"I'm not...worried..."

I'm terrified...

"I just don't like people..." He gave me a pitying look before we stopped in front of the large double doors. My hands fiddled with the strange, leather belt I had around my waist, which resembled more of a skirt than anything.

"Look, I'm not gonna sugar coat this for you...I've been instructed to present you in here. All eyes will be on you, and knowledge of your prior situation is already public. People are likely going to ask you questions...maybe even be a bit hesitant around you...but you need to behave. Just try to get along with them, okay?" Gunther tried to explain, but I was petrified. I didn't want people to be alerted of my existence, but I wasn't being given a choice. Levi had blatantly threatened to throw me in the dungeons if I so much as shifted out of line, and I wasn't prepared to be caged within a cage.

"R..right..." I swallowed as he turned and opened the doors, and it barely took a second for the entire mess hall to fade into complete silence.
"Attention, Cadets! You shall have a new member joining your ranks as of this evening! Introducing (Y/N) (L/N), also known as the woman from beyond the wall! You will treat her as one of your own, understood?!" I was frozen in place beside him up upon the top of the stairwell, and my ears picked up on each and every mumble that began to spread throughout the large number of people.

"D..did I hear that right..?"

"Shit...I thought that was just a joke..!"

"D'ya think she's got mange?"

"I heard she tried to bite off the Captain's ear!"

Gunther turned back to me and gave me a kick nod before beginning to walk back out of the room.
"Go eat something, kid. Petra will come find you later and get you settled in your room." I just watched him as he left, and then I just couldn't bring myself to look back up over the sea of cadets as I hurriedly descended the stairs and made my way over to the food station.
"Choice?" The gruff, old man who was serving handed me a tray, and I clutched it tightly.
"J..just a bread roll, please..."

I doubt I could even keep that down...

Using his bare hands, he tossed it onto my tray and I mumbled a quick thank you before darting over to the one table with no other people. Far in the back corner, I sat with my shoulders hunched and my head down. People were staring, and I hated it. After so many years, I couldn't handle it, and I wanted nothing more than to disappear.

"Hey...mind if I join you..?" My head snapped up as someone approached me, and I was met with gentle brown eyes. I don't know why, but my tension seemed to lessen, if only by a bit, once I noticed the light dapple of freckles sprinkled across his cheeks.

"O..okay..." I eyed him warily as he smiled and sat down across from me; mentally preparing myself for a bombardment of questions.
"I'm Marco, by the way! Marco Bott! You're (Y/N), right?" He introduced himself politely, but all I could do was nod stiffly. "That was a bit harsh of that solider to call you out like that, huh? I would have wet myself up there!" His laugh was soft, just like his features, and he seemed to remind me of someone. Even if he hadn't, the fact that he was being so respectful made me feel less defensive.

"Y..yeah...it wasn't fun..." I admitted quietly; picking at the crust of my roll. "I'm not...good with people...or talking..."
"I wasn't either at the start, but you'll warm up to the place, I'm sure." Marco gave me another comforting smile. "I..If i'm making you uncomfortable, just let me know. I can go away if you don't want to be around anyone." I met his eyes again and hesitated. I wasn't exactly wishing to socialise, but I felt alright about this Marco boy. He didn't seem threatening in the slightest.

"N..no...I...wouldn't mind if you stayed..." I murmured as I finally picked up my roll in both hands; forcing myself to stop fidgeting under the table. "B..but...people are looking at you like you're a madman..." I was right. There were so many eyes burning holes into the two of us, and I didn't want to cause him any trouble. I wasn't one of them, after all. I was the outcast from beyond their realms of understanding.

"So? Let them stare...We're just two new friends having a conversation, right?" He chuckled, and I paused mid-bite. Nobody had ever called me their friend before, and honestly, the word seemed so foreign to my mind. I continued to bite, chew and swallow the small chunk of bread before placing it back down on my tray and staring at it for a while.
"I...guess that's true..." My attention was soon gravitating to his peppered cheeks again, and I caught him lifting a brow. "Uh...s..sorry, Marco...I...um...well, you remind me of someone...Your freckles, that is...I...didn't mean to stare like that...Sorry..."

God, I'm such a freak...He probably regrets this already...

"Really? Usually people poke fun at them..." He replied; his lips tugging right back up.
"They shouldn't...I like them...They make you seem more approachable and gentle..." I sucked my lip back between my teeth once I realised what I had said and dipped my head down immediately. Marco laughed again, but this time it was a little flustered.
"R..really? You think so?" He reached around to rub the back of his neck. "Thanks, (Y/N)...Nobody's ever said that before..!" I just nodded a bit and avoided all eye contact. My mouth had acted on its own again, just like it used to, and I felt beyond embarrassed and uncomfortable.

This...is going to be hell...Damn Ewrin, and doubly damn Levi..!

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***I love Marco more than I love snag & sauce chips (which is a lot - my keyboard is covered with them rn)***