Squad Levi(2)

Eren could hear the sound of oil sizzling.

He saw Petra drawing a knife from a banged-up wooden block on the table, before reaching for the carrots and onions stacked neatly beside her. Pots and pans dangled from a hanging rack not too far off as the smell of garlic wafted in the air.

He had been here for over an hour already, and now he had to prepare the last set of food for a newcomer. He sighed. *That* skill might have some use after all.

[Flashback Start]

(Sometime back)

[Congratulations on completing the quest: Survive for one week ]

[Because of your outstanding performance, not only did you survive, Trost was retaken and Wall Rose did not fall. On top of 2 chances to draw from the mysterious wheel, you have been granted 2 chances to draw from the supreme wheel. Would like to use the chances now?]

"Yes!" Eren responded.

[Beginning to draw]

[User has obtained Expert Marksman from the mysterious wheel]

[User has obtained Chef from the mysterious wheel]

[User has obtained Blade Fury from the Supreme Wheel]

[User has obtained an increase of +10 Strength and Stamina from the Supreme Wheel]

Eren skimmed through the description, focusing on the new skills that he had just acquired.

[Displaying User Stats]

Name: Eren Yeager

Race: Human

Strength: 20

Agility: 30

Intellect: 20

Stamina: 18

…

Expert Marksman: User has 95% accuracy in throwing/shooting all kinds of objects.

Chef: User cooks delicious food.

....

[Advanced Titan Fighting Skill] Blade Fury: User holds one of his blades behind him ,facing backwards and the other facing forward , before spinning at a high speed . This skill can be activated while moving in ODM gear . Requires strength 15 , agility 25 .

Abilities:

Attack Titan: User transforms into the attack titan. ????

Founding Titan: ????

Bloodline: ????

[New mission issued: Ensure the success of the upcoming 57th Expedition Outside the Walls

Reward: 2x Chance to Draw from Mysterious Wheel]

Eren's face lit up. The rewards he obtained such as Blade Fury would definitely be useful to him, considering how dangerous the upcoming expedition was.

The increase in strength also meant that the backlash from using his strongest move: Hexagonal Slash, would most likely not be as severe as before.

But … Chef? Delicious food? Eren shook his head when he read the description of that skill. How was that going to help him?

…

[Flashback End]

"Eren, what are you doing? We need to hurry, it's almost lunchtime already!"

Awaking from his daze, Eren turned his eyes towards the panicked voice. Petra was standing right across the table. The knife in her hand was chopping furiously against the vegetables on the cutting board.

"I'm trying!"Grabbing another egg, Eren broke it as he poured the contents into a bowl."This is way too rushed."

"It can't be helped. Levi was probably told at the last minute too."She shrugged."That's why the information came to us so late."

"I wonder who's the new member joining..."Eren muttered, trying to swallow his curiosity as he tapped his foot.

"Well, the captain was pretty tight-lipped about it."Petra said."But thanks for helping me out with the food. Levi took the rest earlier to assist with swapping the horses, that Ness brought over. You were the only one left."

"Don't mention it."He cracked open another egg."Actually, about Levi… Do you know what made him join the Survey Corps?"

Petra shook her head."I'm not too sure as well, but I heard he used to be an infamous gangster in the underground world."Leaning forward, she scattered the pieces of vegetables onto the beaten eggs Eren had prepared."Commander Erwin was the one who recruited him."

"Erwin?" Eren whisked the eggs from side to side.

"Yup. Why do you sound so dissatisfied?"Petra narrowed her eyes suspiciously as she stole a glance at him."I can't imagine anyone more suitable than him to lead the Survey Corps."

"No,I just … it's nothing." Eren's face sunk a little.

He wanted to say more, but couldn't. It was only restricted to a group of people. He understood Erwin's reasons for his plan, but the idea that so many soldiers were never going to return, at his command. It was still hard to accept.

"You know, Eren. Every time the Survey Corps embarks on an expedition. There are always losses. Remember the most recent one?"

"Yea.The one where we encountered an aberrant horde."Eren said, pouring the pale yellow mixture into a pan as a sizzling sound could be heard.

"I was with the captain then when we reported to Erwin afterwards. I could see the sadness in his eyes as he spoke. He was asking the squad leaders for the names of those who perished."Petra paused a moment."So he could write to their families, to personally apologize for what happened."

From her tone, Eren could tell the deaths of her fellow soldiers still pained her. There was no answer he could give to that.

"There's no doubt about the abilities of the commander, everyone knows that."She continued, her tone softening. "But at least for me, him treating the lives of his fellow soldiers as precious. Not taking them for granted, makes me able to trust him. To trust his decisions. "

"I-I see."Eren's arms went heavy as his shoulders pulled low. Erwin actually cared so deeply for his men? Just how much pain and resolve did he have to endure and muster... to make the decision to sacrifice them?

Staring at his feet now, Eren recalled when he met him after the meeting. The look on Erwin's face as he confronted him. How he wished he could turn back time.

"Gosh, Eren! The eggs!"

"Ah-" Eren quickly removed the pan from the heat of the burning fireplace, pouring the golden-brown goodness onto a plate.

"That was close, you need to be more focused when cooking!"

Eren could see the relief on Petra's face."Sorry."He smiled apologetically."I'll be more careful next time."

"Let's hurry, we're really late."Petra placed the plates on the trays as they carried them, and stepped out of the kitchen.

Whisking through a spotless hallway that seemed to have no end, they passed by a row of long arched windows, with a sublime view of the surroundings, trees rocking in the wind, a small river meandering through the tall grasses, and a group of deers grazing along a path.

Somewhere to their left, a group of birds were chirping happily as they flew in and out of their nests in the trees. Eren envied their freedom, being able to fly beyond the walls and admire the oceans and lands Armin spoke of. How he wished he could do that too.

If only he had the time to slowly relish the scene before him.

"Arghhh, there's Hange with her experiments again after Lunch,"Eren said, annoyed, his pace quickening. He was forced to go along with her shenanigans and it always looked like it would never end."It's the first time I've seen someone get that excited over a titan…"

Petra giggled. The rays of light that streamed through the windows caused her hair to shine like spun gold, making her look even more beautiful. "Hange leads the titan research in the Survey Corps, Eren. There's no way she wouldn't be interested in you after hearing what happened."

"Still she kinda creeps me out. Like she's way too enthusiastic."

"It's your fault."Petra teased."Who asked you to be so cooperative?"

"I guess ... it's my fault for being able to control my titan so well." Eren slumped his shoulders as he glanced wistfully again at the scenery outside. He could hear a burst of soft laughter beside him.

"But thanks to you, we've learnt a lot more about titans haven't we?"

Eren nodded. The regenerative properties of the people like him who could transform into titans - titan shifters as Hange called them. The duration between each transformation. How long they could stay in such a state. Hange said they now had a much better understanding of them, it was a huge breakthrough they have not seen for decades.

"Let's bring the food in now," Petra said as they stopped before a slab of light-brown oak with rusty iron bands. Pushing it open, she stepped in.

Eren strode into the dining room after her, although the place had been abandoned for a long time, it was now sparkling clean. It wasn't particularly big, but it had a high vaulted ceiling along with a fireplace and a wooden keg at the end of the room. He could count four people seated at a long trestle table not too far off, with another one person drawing beer from the keg.

"M-Mikasa?What are yo-"Eren's mouth and legs abruptly stopped. He recognized the figure that was seated beside Levi and chatting with the rest of the squad.

"Petra. Eren. Mikasa will be joining our team from today onwards."Levi said bluntly as their eyes met."Erwin's orders."

Eren was just about to protest. He knew he lost his chance the moment he heard that man's name.

"E-r-e-n." Mikasa's voice rang out.

Eren's hair stood up, his whole body shuddering. The chilling intent from the words wrapped themselves around him. Did he do something wrong?

"Oh… so that's it." A sly grin popped across Petra's face as she ran towards Mikasa. Whispering to her, both of them stole glances at Eren in between.

*Whispering sounds*

The gloomy look on Mikasa's face faded, replaced by a smile and a blush of deep red. She was nodding her head, seemingly in excitement.

Petra returned to his side shortly, and they began to distribute the food.

"What did you tell her?"Eren asked as he tilted his head, his eyebrows raised.

"Secret. Teehee." A flicker of a smile passed Petra's lips, she looked like a partner in crime with Mikasa.

"The food smells really good." Eld gave a sniff as he dug in right away."WOW, the omelette is delicious!"

" Yea."Gunther nodded as he continued eating."Your cooking has really improved a lot, Petra."

"It's actually Eren who did most of it. I only helped out with the vegetable fillings." Petra pointed at him.

"Tch… looks like you got some culinary skills, "Oluo remarked, as he wiped off the pieces of egg stuck around his mouth.

"It's decided then."Levi's eyes widened upon eating the omelette. "I appoint you … as the official chef of the Special Operations Squad. Officer Eren Yeager."

"Wai-"

"I agree too." Mikasa interrupted, a smile breaking through her lips. She gingerly took small bites of the food, her eyes straying to and fro from Eren's face.

Laughter broke out among the squad as Eren stared helplessly.

A/N: 1.8k words, 2nd chapter of the week!