Memories

Author's Note: Long chapter, enjoy!

The rhythmic clop of hooves against packed earth was the only sound breaking the oppressive silence of the night. Aaron Mustang sat astride his faithful black stallion, his body tense with fatigue and hypervigilance. Behind him, Mike slumped against his back, the older soldier's breathing labored and punctuated by occasional grunts of pain.

They had been riding for hours, the landscape around them fading from the golden hues of sunset to the inky blackness of night. The air had grown chill, carrying with it the earthy scent of damp soil and pine needles.

"Hey, Mustang," Mike's voice, weak but tinged with a hint of his usual dry humor, broke the silence.

Aaron felt a twinge of nervousness at Mike's tone. "What is it, Mike?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

There was a pause before Mike responded, his words slow and deliberate. "Where the hell are we going?"

Aaron swallowed hard, his hands tightening on the reins. "Isn't it obvious? Back to Trost to get you medical attention."

Mike let out a soft snort. "Then why aren't we there yet?"

"Well," Aaron hedged, "we're pretty far out..."

"I know that," Mike replied, a note of exasperation creeping into his voice. "But even so, we should have made it back by now."

Aaron felt heat rising to his cheeks, grateful for the darkness that hid his embarrassment. "Who knows," he mumbled, hoping Mike would drop the subject.

But Mike, despite his injuries, was as sharp as ever. "We're lost, aren't we?"

Aaron's silence was answer enough.

Mike let out a heavy sigh. "Why didn't you just ask me for directions?"

"My pride as a captain wouldn't allow it," Aaron admitted, the words leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.

Another sigh from Mike, this one tinged with a mixture of amusement and resignation. "The horse must be exhausted. We need to find a place to rest."

As if in answer to Mike's words, the clouds overhead parted, allowing the full moon to bathe the landscape in ethereal silver light. In the distance, perched atop a small hill, stood the crumbling silhouette of what appeared to be a ruined castle.

Aaron's spirits lifted at the sight. "How about there?" he suggested, pointing towards the structure.

Mike nodded his approval. "Good idea."

They urged the tired horse forward, its pace quickening slightly at the prospect of rest. As they drew closer to the ruined castle, movement caught Aaron's eye. Figures were moving about in the courtyard, their familiar uniforms a welcome sight.

"Looks like we had the same idea as the others," Aaron observed, recognizing members of Nanaba and Dino's squads.

As they rode into the courtyard, Gelgar, one of Dino's squad members, rushed to meet them. His eyes widened as he took in Mike's battered state. "Squad Leader Mike! Are you alright? What happened?"

Neil, another veteran soldier, stepped forward, his gaze sharp as he assessed Aaron and Mike's condition. "For the Captain and Squad Leader to be in this state... you must have encountered a lot of Titans."

Aaron dismounted carefully, helping Mike down from the horse. "I'll explain everything inside," he said, his voice carrying the unmistakable tone of command despite his exhaustion.

The interior of the ruined castle was a far cry from its former glory, but it provided much-needed shelter from the elements. The group gathered in what must have once been a grand hall, now reduced to crumbling stone walls and a partially collapsed roof. Moonlight filtered through gaps in the ceiling, casting long shadows across the worn flagstones.

A makeshift fire had been built in the center of the room, its warm glow a stark contrast to the cool blue moonlight. Around it sat the assembled soldiers, their faces a mixture of exhaustion, curiosity, and barely concealed fear.

Aaron settled Mike against a wall before taking a seat himself. He could feel the weight of everyone's gaze upon him as he began to recount the events of the day. He spoke of the numerous Titans they had faced, of the desperate battle atop the barn roof. But when he mentioned the Beast Titan, he noticed a change in the atmosphere.

Reiner and Bertholdt, who had been listening with rapt attention, suddenly tensed. It was a subtle change – a slight stiffening of their shoulders, a tightening around their eyes – but to Aaron's observant gaze, it spoke volumes.

Reiner cleared his throat, his voice carefully neutral as he asked, "And what happened to this Beast Titan?"

Aaron's eyes narrowed slightly, his mind racing as he considered the implications of their reaction. "Oh, I defeated it," he said casually, watching their faces closely. "But it managed to escape in the end."

Connie let out a low whistle, shaking his head in disbelief. "Damn, Mustang. Since when did you get so good?"

Aaron shrugged, feigning nonchalance even as his mind whirled with suspicions and half-formed theories. "It doesn't matter. That fight pushed me to my limit. Between that and all the other Titans I took down, I'm exhausted."

Nanaba stood up, her face set with determination. "Captain, you and the recruits should rest. We'll take care of the watch."

Aaron opened his mouth to protest, but Nanaba cut him off. "No, Captain. You need to rest."

Too tired to argue further, Aaron relented with a sigh. "Fine, fine."

As the veteran soldiers made their way to the roof to keep watch, Aaron found himself gravitating towards Christa. He settled down next to her, the warmth of her presence a balm to his frayed nerves.

"I'm going to take a nap," he mumbled, already feeling sleep tugging at the edges of his consciousness. Without thinking, he leaned over, resting his head on Christa's shoulder. The last thing he heard before succumbing to exhaustion was Ymir's indignant sputter.

"Hey, Christa! Why is that idiot sleeping on you?" Ymir's voice was sharp with jealousy.

Connie's excited voice cut through Aaron's fading consciousness. "No way... Is it what I think it is?"

Aaron felt Christa's slight nod more than he saw it, the movement jostling his head slightly.

Connie's triumphant cry of "I knew it!" was the last thing Aaron heard before sleep claimed him completely.

In the realm of dreams, Aaron found no respite from the day's events. Images flashed through his mind – the Beast Titan's intelligent eyes, Mike's agonized scream, the feeling of cutting through Titan flesh. But interspersed with these nightmarish visions were softer moments – Christa's smile, the warmth of her hand in his, the sound of her laughter.

He wasn't sure how long he had been asleep when the gentle sensation of fingers running through his hair began to pull him back to consciousness. Aaron kept his eyes closed, savoring the soothing touch and the quiet voices around him.

"Tell me, Christa," Connie was saying, his voice filled with curiosity, "what's Mustang really like? To us, he's always been this tough guy who'd knock you down if you disagreed with him. Then we don't see him for years, and suddenly he's this big shot Survey Corps captain."

There was a pause, and Aaron felt Christa's fingers still in his hair for a moment before resuming their gentle ministrations.

"Well," Christa's soft voice was filled with warmth that made Aaron's heart skip a beat, "to me, he's still the same boy from three years ago. He's sensitive, kind, and strong. Although... he does seem more tired now."

Aaron had to fight to keep his face neutral at Christa's words. Sensitive? Kind? Was that really how she saw him?

Connie's disbelieving snort echoed Aaron's own thoughts. "Mustang, sensitive? It's more likely to see a rock cry."

"Not that kind of sensitivity," Christa clarified, a hint of amusement in her voice.

.....

The cool night air whipped around Nanaba as she stood atop the ruined castle, her eyes scanning the moonlit horizon for any sign of Titan activity. The weight of responsibility pressed down on her shoulders, made heavier by the tumultuous emotions swirling in her chest.

Footsteps approached from behind, and Nanaba tensed slightly before recognizing Dino's familiar gait. He came to stand beside her, his presence a silent offer of companionship in the lonely night.

"Everything alright?" Dino's voice was low, tinged with concern.

Nanaba nodded, not taking her eyes off the distant treeline. "Yes, why?"

Dino shifted his weight, the old stonework creaking beneath his feet. "You seem distracted."

"It's nothing," Nanaba replied, perhaps a bit too quickly.

A moment of silence stretched between them before Dino spoke again, his voice carefully neutral. "Is it because of the recruit and the Captain?"

Nanaba's lack of response was answer enough. She could feel Dino's eyes on her, studying her profile in the moonlight.

Finally, Dino let out a heavy sigh. "I don't understand what you see in him, to be honest."

Nanaba turned to face him then, a wry smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "You wouldn't understand."

"Why don't you try me?" Dino challenged, a hint of his usual playfulness creeping into his tone. "We've got all night, after all."

Nanaba's gaze drifted to where Gelgar was muttering about alcohol in his sleep, then to Neil, who was examining his nails with exaggerated interest. She weighed her options, feeling the weight of her unspoken feelings pressing against her chest.

"Alright," she said finally, her voice soft. "I'll tell you."

Nanaba took a deep breath, her mind drifting back to a day that felt like a lifetime ago...

---

The Survey Corps headquarters bustled with activity, soldiers rushing to and fro as they prepared for the upcoming expedition. Nanaba, still a fresh-faced recruit with dreams of glory, stood at attention in the courtyard alongside her fellow trainees. The air was thick with anticipation and nervous energy.

Captain Levi strode into view, his presence commanding immediate attention. But it wasn't Levi who caught Nanaba's eye – it was the young man trailing behind him. He was tall and lean, with messy dark hair and piercing green eyes that seemed to challenge anyone who dared meet his gaze.

"Listen up," Levi's voice cut through the murmur of conversation. "This is Aaron Mustang. He'll be joining my squad effective immediately."

A ripple of surprise ran through the assembled soldiers. Nanaba felt her jaw clench in indignation. This newcomer, this Mustang, was being placed directly into humanity's strongest squad? He looked barely older than her, possibly even younger. What made him so special?

As if sensing her thoughts, Aaron's eyes locked onto Nanaba. He raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. The casual arrogance in his expression made Nanaba's blood boil.

Over the next few weeks, Nanaba found herself growing increasingly frustrated with Aaron Mustang. He seemed to have no respect for authority, treating Captain Levi as an equal rather than a superior officer. She watched in disbelief as he casually disagreed with Commander Erwin's strategies during briefings, offering his own suggestions with a confidence that bordered on insubordination.

"Who does he think he is?" Nanaba muttered to her fellow recruits one evening in the mess hall. "He's going to get himself kicked out if he's not careful."

But to her surprise and mounting frustration, Aaron wasn't kicked out. If anything, his unorthodox behavior seemed to be tolerated, even encouraged at times. It made no sense to Nanaba, who had worked so hard to earn her place in the Survey Corps.

The breaking point came on a seemingly ordinary day. Nanaba was crossing the courtyard when a commotion from above caught her attention. She looked up just in time to see Squad Leader Mike Zacharias come flying out of a second-story window, landing hard on the ground a few feet away from her.

"Squad Leader!" Nanaba rushed to Mike's side, helping him to his feet. "What happened?"

Mike groaned, rubbing his back. "Mustang," he grunted. "Erwin ordered him confined to quarters as punishment for that stunt he pulled during training. I tried to escort him and... well, you saw the result."

Nanaba felt a surge of anger. This was the last straw. Without thinking, she stormed into the building, climbing the stairs two at a time until she reached Aaron's room.

She found him lounging on his bed, looking for all the world like he didn't have a care in the world. The sight only fueled Nanaba's anger.

"What is wrong with you?" she demanded, her voice shaking with barely contained rage. "Do you have any idea what it means to be a soldier? To have discipline, to follow orders?"

Aaron looked up at her, his green eyes unreadable. "And what would you know about it, recruit? You've never even seen a Titan up close."

Nanaba felt her face flush with indignation. "That's not the point! We're all here to fight for humanity's future. Don't you care about that at all?"

For a moment, something flickered in Aaron's eyes – a depth of emotion that caught Nanaba off guard. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by his usual mask of indifference.

"I'm only here for one reason," Aaron said, his voice low and intense. "They promised to take care of my sister. That's it. I'd sacrifice the entire world for her if I had to."

Nanaba recoiled as if she'd been slapped. The casual way Aaron dismissed everything the Survey Corps stood for, everything she believed in, left her speechless. Without another word, she turned on her heel and left, her mind reeling from the encounter.

As she stormed down the hallway, Nanaba couldn't shake the memory of that brief moment when Aaron's mask had slipped. There was more to him than met the eye, she realized. But that only made his attitude more infuriating.

Nanaba paused in her narration, her eyes distant as she recalled more memories. Dino leaned in, his curiosity piqued. "So, what happened next? Surely that wasn't what made you fall for him."

A small smile played at the corners of Nanaba's lips. "No, it wasn't. But it was the beginning. Let me tell you about a day that changed everything..."

---

The sun hung high in the sky, its harsh rays beating down on the Survey Corps training grounds. Nanaba wiped sweat from her brow, her muscles aching from hours of ODM gear practice. As she caught her breath, a commotion near the command tent caught her attention.

Captain Levi stood with his arms crossed, his perpetual scowl deepened as he glared up at Aaron Mustang. The height difference between them was almost comical, but there was nothing funny about the tension crackling in the air.

"Oi, Mustang," Levi's voice carried across the training ground. "What part of 'clean the stables' did your thick skull not understand?"

Aaron rolled his eyes, his posture radiating insolence. "Come on, Levi. Don't you think my talents are wasted on shit-shoveling duty?"

Nanaba felt her jaw drop at Aaron's casual disrespect. She expected Levi to explode, to put the insubordinate soldier in his place. But to her shock, Levi merely clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"It's Captain Levi to you, you overgrown beanpole," Levi retorted, but there was no real heat in his words. "And your 'talents' include following orders. Now get your ass to those stables before I decide to use you as a mop."

Aaron grinned, a spark of mischief in his green eyes. "Yes, sir, Captain Shortstack, sir," he said with an exaggerated salute.

Levi's eye twitched, but to Nanaba's continued amazement, the corner of his mouth quirked up in what might have been the ghost of a smile. "Just go, before I change my mind about letting you live."

As Aaron sauntered off towards the stables, Nanaba overheard Levi muttering under his breath. "Tch. Why did I have to pick such a troublesome brat? And why does he have to be so damn tall?"

The fondness in Levi's tone was unmistakable, and it made Nanaba's blood boil. How could Aaron get away with such behavior? And why did Levi, of all people, seem to have such a soft spot for him?

Later that day, Nanaba found herself in the mess hall, picking at her food as she mulled over what she'd witnessed. She was so lost in thought that she almost missed the conversation at the next table.

"Did you hear?" a veteran soldier was saying. "Mustang completed that impossible reconnaissance mission Erwin assigned him. Mapped out the entire northern forest Titan territory without a single casualty."

His companion whistled low. "No way. That area's been a death trap for years. How'd he manage that?"

The first soldier shrugged. "Who knows? But I heard Levi saying something about how he knew the brat would pull it off. Apparently, he's the one who recruited Mustang from the Underground."

Nanaba's fork clattered to her plate. The Underground? Suddenly, pieces began to fall into place – Aaron's disregard for authority, his skills that seemed to surpass those of normal recruits, the way Levi treated him...

But before she could process this new information, alarm bells began to ring throughout the compound. Titans had been spotted approaching from the east.

In the chaos that followed, Nanaba found herself on the front lines, her heart pounding as she engaged her ODM gear. The battle was fierce, Titans seeming to appear from every direction. She was so focused on taking down a 7-meter class that she didn't notice the 15-meter abnormal approaching from behind.

It was only when she heard the hiss of her gas running out that Nanaba realized the true danger she was in. She plummeted towards the ground, her mind racing for a solution, for any way out of this death trap.

The abnormal's hand reached for her, its grotesque face split in a mindless grin. Nanaba closed her eyes, bracing for the end.

But the end didn't come. Instead, she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist, yanking her out of the Titan's grasp. Her eyes flew open to see Aaron Mustang, his face set in grim determination as he maneuvered them both to safety.

"Hang on," he growled, his voice strained with effort.

Before Nanaba could respond, Aaron had deposited her on a nearby rooftop. Without missing a beat, he launched himself back towards the abnormal, his blades flashing in the sunlight.

Nanaba watched in awe as Aaron took down the 15-meter Titan with a series of moves she'd never seen before. It was like watching a deadly dance, Aaron's body moving with a grace and precision that seemed almost superhuman.

As the Titan's steaming corpse hit the ground, Aaron landed beside Nanaba. His uniform was splattered with blood, both his own and the Titan's, and his breathing was heavy.

"You alright?" he asked, his green eyes scanning her for injuries.

Nanaba nodded, still too shocked to speak. Aaron gave a curt nod in return and turned to leave.

"Wait!" Nanaba found her voice. "Your gas... you used it all to save me. You should go back to headquarters."

Aaron glanced at his ODM gear, then back at the battlefield where more Titans were approaching. "No can do," he said, a grim smile playing at his lips. "Orders are to protect our comrades at all costs. Can't very well do that from HQ, can I?"

With that, he was off again, using what little gas he had left to swing between buildings, taking on Titans with nothing but his blades and sheer determination.

Nanaba watched him go, her heart pounding for reasons that had nothing to do with the battle raging around them. In that moment, she saw Aaron Mustang in a new light. Behind the insolent attitude and casual disregard for authority was a soldier who, when it truly mattered, followed his orders to the letter – even if it meant putting his life on the line.

The battle seemed to stretch on for hours. Nanaba, having procured gas from a fallen comrade, rejoined the fight. But her eyes kept searching for Aaron, worry gnawing at her gut every time she lost sight of him.

Finally, as the last Titan fell and the call for retreat sounded, Nanaba spotted a familiar figure slumped against a partially destroyed wall. Aaron was covered in blood and steam, his uniform in tatters, but he was alive.

Without thinking, Nanaba rushed to his side. "Mustang! Are you alright?"

Aaron looked up at her, exhaustion evident in every line of his face. But there was a spark in his green eyes, a fierce pride that took Nanaba's breath away.

"Never better," he said with a weak grin. "Did we lose anyone?"

Nanaba shook her head, marveling at his concern for others even in his battered state. "No, thanks to you. You saved a lot of lives today, Aaron."

Something flickered in Aaron's eyes at the use of his first name – surprise, maybe, or something softer that Nanaba couldn't quite name. But before he could respond, Captain Levi appeared, his usual scowl firmly in place.

"Oi, Mustang," Levi said, his tone gruff but tinged with what might have been concern. "You look like shit."

Aaron chuckled, wincing as the movement jostled his injuries. "Feel like it too, Captain Shortstack."

Levi clicked his tongue in annoyance, but Nanaba saw the way his hand gently squeezed Aaron's shoulder. "Let's get you to medical, you troublesome brat. Can you stand?"

As Levi helped Aaron to his feet, Nanaba felt something shift inside her. The arrogant, disrespectful recruit she had resented was gone, replaced by a complex, brave, infuriating man who had risked everything to save his comrades – to save her.

It was in that moment, watching Aaron lean on Levi as they made their way back to headquarters, that Nanaba realized she was falling in love with Aaron Mustang.

---

Nanaba's voice trailed off, her eyes refocusing on the present. Dino was watching her with a mixture of understanding and sympathy.

"I see," he said softly. "So that's why."

Nanaba nodded, a rueful smile playing at her lips. "It's foolish, I know. He's our captain, and now with Christa... But I can't help how I feel."

Dino placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's not foolish to care, Nanaba. It's what makes us human."

Neil leaned against the parapet, his eyes scanning the moonlit horizon as he joined the conversation. "Talking about the Captain, are you?" he asked, a wry smile playing at his lips. "I remember when I first met him, about a year after he'd joined the Corps. He was... quite something."

Nanaba and Dino exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued. "Go on," Nanaba urged, her voice soft in the still night air.

Neil's mind drifted back to that time, the memories as vivid as if they had happened yesterday...

---

The Survey Corps headquarters was a hive of activity, recruits and veteran soldiers alike bustling about their daily tasks. Neil, fresh-faced and eager to prove himself, stood at attention alongside his fellow new recruits. They had been assigned to cleaning duty, a task that seemed mundane but, as Captain Levi had impressed upon them, was crucial to maintaining discipline and order.

"Alright, you miserable lot," Levi's voice cut through the chatter like a knife. "I want this place spotless. Every surface should be clean enough to eat off of. Understood?"

A chorus of "Yes, sir!" rang out, Neil's voice among them. As they dispersed to their assigned areas, Neil couldn't help but notice one figure who hadn't moved. Leaning against a wall, arms crossed and eyes closed, was a tall young man with messy dark hair. Unlike the recruits, he wore the green cloak of a full-fledged Survey Corps member.

"Um, excuse me," Neil said, approaching the stranger cautiously. "Didn't you hear Captain Levi? We're supposed to be cleaning."

One green eye cracked open, regarding Neil with a mixture of weariness and mild amusement. "Oh, I heard him alright," the man said, his voice tinged with a hint of sarcasm. "I just have more important things to do than polish doorknobs."

Neil felt his jaw drop. Who was this guy, and how dare he disregard a direct order from humanity's strongest soldier? He was about to give the insolent soldier a piece of his mind when a shadow fell over them both.

"Mustang," Levi's voice was low and dangerous. "What do you think you're doing?"

Neil stepped back, expecting to see the arrogant soldier get the dressing down of a lifetime. But to his utter shock, the man – Mustang – merely shrugged.

"Conserving energy, obviously," Mustang replied, his tone casual but with an undercurrent of exhaustion that Neil hadn't noticed before. "You know how I feel about wasting time on trivialities, Levi."

Neil's eyes darted between Mustang and Levi, waiting for the explosion. But it never came. Instead, Levi merely clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"Tch. You're impossible, brat," Levi muttered. Then, to Neil's continuing amazement, he turned to leave, but not before adding, "Make sure you're at the strategy meeting this afternoon. And try not to fall asleep this time."

As Levi walked away, Mustang's gaze fell on Neil, who was still standing there, bucket and rag in hand. "Word of advice, recruit," Mustang said, his voice low. "In this line of work, you need to prioritize. Sometimes, that means pissing off the higher-ups to get the important shit done."

With that cryptic statement, Mustang pushed off from the wall and strode away, leaving Neil to ponder his words as he set about his cleaning duties.

Over the next few weeks, Neil found himself paying close attention to Aaron Mustang. The more he observed, the more intrigued he became. Mustang seemed to operate in a world of his own, straddling the line between insubordination and invaluable asset.

One afternoon, as Neil was returning from ODM gear maintenance, he overheard raised voices from Commander Erwin's office. Curiosity got the better of him, and he found himself lingering near the slightly ajar door.

"...telling you, Erwin, it's a clusterfuck waiting to happen," Mustang's voice drifted out, filled with a passionate intensity that Neil had never heard from the usually laconic soldier. "The terrain is too unpredictable. We need more recon before we commit to a full expedition."

"And what would you suggest, Aaron?" Erwin's calm voice replied. "We're running out of time and resources. The brass is breathing down our necks for results."

There was a pause, and Neil could almost imagine Mustang running a hand through his perpetually messy hair. "Give me three days," he said finally. "Let me take a small team. We'll map out the Titan activity, find the safest route. It's risky, but not as risky as going in blind."

To Neil's surprise, he heard Erwin chuckle. "Always with the unconventional solutions, eh, Mustang? Alright, you have your three days. But be careful out there. I'd hate to have to explain to Levi why his protégé didn't make it back."

"Please," Mustang scoffed, though there was less bravado in his tone than Neil would have expected. "As if I'd let some oversized naked freaks take me down. I've got too much unfinished business."

Neil barely had time to duck around a corner before the office door swung open. He watched, hidden, as Mustang strode out, a determined set to his shoulders that spoke of the weight of responsibility he carried.

As the days passed, Neil found himself increasingly intrigued by Aaron Mustang. The man was a study in contradictions. He napped through meetings and shirked mundane duties, yet Neil often spotted him burning the midnight oil in the strategy room, poring over maps and reports with an intensity that was almost frightening.

He treated Captain Levi with a casual disrespect that would have earned anyone else a thousand laps around the compound, yet there was an undeniable bond between them. Neil once overheard Levi muttering to Erwin, "The brat's a pain in the ass, but he's the best damn strategist we've got. Don't tell him I said that, though. His ego's big enough as it is."

And then there were the women. Neil couldn't help but notice the way female recruits and veterans alike seemed drawn to Mustang. His roguish charm and air of danger seemed to captivate them, despite – or perhaps because of – his prickly demeanor.

One day, Neil found himself in the mess hall, seated near a group of female recruits. Among them was Nanaba, her short blonde hair catching the light as she leaned in to gossip with her friends.

"Did you see Mustang during training yesterday?" one recruit sighed dreamily. "The way he moves... it's like he's dancing with death itself."

"Forget his moves," another giggled. "Did you see him when he got out of the shower this morning? I swear, those scars only make him more attractive."

Nanaba, usually so composed, couldn't hide the blush that crept up her cheeks. "He's not that great," she muttered, but the way her eyes followed Mustang as he entered the mess hall told a different story.

Neil found himself torn between admiration and wariness. How could someone so apparently reckless and disrespectful be so universally respected – and feared?

The answer came on a seemingly ordinary day, about two months into Neil's time with the Survey Corps. He was crossing the courtyard when a commotion from above caught his attention. To his shock, he saw Squad Leader Mike Zacharias come flying out of a second-story window, landing with a thud on the grass nearby.

"Squad Leader!" Neil rushed to Mike's side, helping the larger man to his feet. "Are you alright? What happened?"

Mike groaned, rubbing his back. "Mustang happened," he grumbled. "Levi ordered me to confine him to quarters for punching some Military Police asshole who was harassing a civilian. I tried to escort him and... well, you saw the result."

Neil's eyes widened. "But... why would Mustang attack a Military Police officer?"

Mike let out a bark of laughter, wincing as the movement jostled his bruised body. "The MP was getting handsy with a girl in the market. Mustang doesn't tolerate that kind of shit. Problem is, he doesn't tolerate it with his fists instead of his words."

As Mike staggered to his feet, he added with a grimace, "And this is the fifth time this year he's thrown me out that damn window. You'd think I'd learn by now."

As Mike limped off to the infirmary, Neil found himself staring up at the window Mustang had defenestrated the Squad Leader from. For the first time, he felt like he was beginning to understand why people both admired and feared Aaron Mustang.

The fear, Neil realized, didn't stem from Mustang's strength or his temper. It came from his unpredictability. No one, not even Levi or Erwin, seemed to know exactly how Mustang would react in any given situation. That unpredictability made him a wild card – dangerous to his enemies, but also potentially dangerous to his allies if they didn't stay on their toes.

But it was during an expedition beyond the walls that Neil truly understood why Mustang was so valued despite his difficult personality. They had been ambushed by a group of abnormal Titans, the formation thrown into chaos as soldiers scrambled to regroup and fight back.

Neil found himself cornered, his ODM gear jammed and a 10-meter Titan bearing down on him. He closed his eyes, certain that his short career as a Scout was about to come to a gruesome end.

But the end never came. Instead, he heard the familiar hiss of ODM gear and the wet sound of blades slicing through Titan flesh. He opened his eyes to see Mustang and Captain Levi moving in perfect synchronization, their bodies twisting and turning in a deadly dance as they took down Titan after Titan.

It was like watching two parts of a whole, each anticipating the other's moves before they were made. Where Levi was all precise, economical movements, Mustang was fluid grace and raw power. Together, they were unstoppable.

As the last Titan fell, steam rising from its disintegrating corpse, Neil heard Petra Ral, another member of Levi's elite squad, let out a low whistle of appreciation.

"Incredible as always, Mustang," she called out, her voice filled with admiration. "I don't think I've ever seen anyone keep up with the Captain like that."

Mustang, breathing heavily but looking more alive than Neil had ever seen him, flashed Petra a roguish grin. "What can I say? I learned from the best. Even if the best is vertically challenged."

Levi's foot lashed out, catching Mustang in the back of the knee and sending him sprawling. But there was no real malice in the action, and Neil could have sworn he saw the ghost of a smile on the Captain's usually stoic face.

As they made their way back to the walls, Neil found his perception of Aaron Mustang irrevocably changed. The man was far from perfect – he was rude, irreverent, and had a knack for finding trouble. But he was also brilliant, fiercely protective of those he cared about, and willing to put his life on the line without hesitation for the sake of his comrades and humanity.

Neil realized that Mustang's apparent laziness and disrespect for authority weren't signs of a bad soldier. They were the coping mechanisms of a man who had seen too much, who carried the weight of countless lives on his shoulders. The naps during the day? Probably because he spent his nights strategizing ways to keep his comrades alive. The disregard for minor rules? A small rebellion against a world that demanded constant sacrifice.

As they rode through the gates, battered but alive, Neil caught Mustang's eye. For a moment, the older soldier's guard seemed to drop, and Neil saw the toll that the constant battles – both against the Titans and within the ranks – had taken on him.

But then the moment passed, Mustang's usual sardonic smirk sliding back into place. "Not bad for your first real expedition, rookie," he called out. "Try not to die before the next one, yeah? Paperwork's a bitch when we lose people."

With that, he rode off, leaving Neil to ponder the enigma that was Aaron Mustang. Little did Neil know, his understanding of the complex soldier was about to deepen even further...

Neil paused in his narration, his eyes distant as he recalled more memories. Dino and Nanaba leaned in, captivated by the tale. "So, what happened next?" Dino prompted, his curiosity piqued.

A small, rueful smile played at the corners of Neil's lips as he continued...

---

The aftermath of that expedition was a turning point for many in the Survey Corps. The losses had been heavy, and the atmosphere in the headquarters was somber. Neil found himself wandering the corridors late one night, unable to sleep, the faces of fallen comrades haunting his dreams.

As he passed by the strategy room, a sliver of light beneath the door caught his attention. Curious, he peered inside, only to find Aaron Mustang hunched over a desk strewn with maps and reports. The flickering candlelight cast deep shadows across Mustang's face, emphasizing the dark circles under his eyes and the grim set of his jaw.

Without looking up, Mustang spoke, his voice rough with exhaustion. "Either come in or go away, recruit. The lurking is getting on my nerves."

Sheepishly, Neil slipped into the room. "Sorry, sir. I couldn't sleep and saw the light..."

Mustang finally looked up, his green eyes bloodshot but sharp. "Yeah, well, welcome to the club," he muttered, gesturing vaguely at the chair across from him.

As Neil sat down, he couldn't help but study the documents spread across the desk. They were mission reports, he realized, detailing the events of their recent expedition. But they weren't just dry accounts of Titan encounters and casualty numbers. Mustang had annotated them extensively, analyzing every decision, every movement.

"Sir," Neil began hesitantly, "why are you doing this? I thought... well, I heard you were only here because Captain Levi recruited you from the Underground."

Mustang's eyes flashed with a mixture of irritation and something deeper, more painful. "That's right," he said, his voice low and intense. "Levi dragged me out of that hellhole and Erwin promised to take care of my sister if I joined up. Doesn't mean I want to see good soldiers die for no reason."

Neil felt a chill run down his spine at the blunt assessment. There was something in Mustang's words, in the tight set of his shoulders, that spoke of a man caught between duty and desire.

"Can I... can I help?" Neil found himself asking, surprising even himself with the offer.

For a long moment, Mustang just stared at him, as if trying to gauge his sincerity. Then, with a short nod, he shoved a stack of papers towards Neil. "Start with these. I need a breakdown of our supply usage compared to previous expeditions. Look for any anomalies."

And so began a strange sort of mentorship. Night after night, Neil found himself in that strategy room, working alongside Mustang to analyze missions and devise new tactics. It was grueling, often frustrating work, but Neil felt like he was finally contributing to something meaningful.

Weeks passed, and Neil began to see a side of Mustang that few others seemed to notice. Behind the sarcastic comments and apparent disregard for the Corps' mission was a man driven by a complex mix of obligations and hidden depths. Every life lost seemed to weigh on him, not out of some noble ideal, but as if each death was a personal failure.

One night, as they pored over a particularly troubling report, Mustang suddenly spoke up, his voice uncharacteristically vulnerable. "You know why I really do this, Neil?"

Surprised by the personal question, Neil shook his head.

Mustang's eyes were distant, focused on something Neil couldn't see. "Every soldier that dies out there... that's one less person standing between the Titans and my sister. One less obstacle keeping those monsters from breaking through and reaching the hospital where she's being treated."

He paused, his hand clenching into a fist on the desk. "I don't give a damn about humanity's future or whatever bullshit Erwin's always spouting. But I'll be damned if I let my sister's safety be compromised because I didn't do everything in my power to keep this Corps functioning."

The raw emotion in Mustang's voice struck Neil to his core. In that moment, he saw past the jaded exterior to the fiercely protective brother that drove every action. It was a side of Mustang he suspected few ever got to see.

Their late-night strategy sessions didn't go unnoticed. One evening, as they were leaving the room, they nearly collided with Commander Erwin and Captain Levi.

"Burning the midnight oil again, Mustang?" Erwin asked, his piercing blue eyes taking in the scene.

Mustang shrugged, his usual nonchalant mask sliding back into place. "Just making sure your half-baked strategies don't get us all killed, Commander."

Neil tensed, expecting a reprimand for Mustang's irreverent tone. But to his shock, Erwin merely chuckled. "Your... unique perspective has been invaluable, Aaron. Which is why I have a proposition for you."

Levi, who had been silently observing, spoke up. "We're forming a new special operations squad. Erwin wants you to lead it."

The look of genuine surprise on Mustang's face was almost comical. "Me? Lead a squad? Have you both gone senile?"

"Don't play dumb, brat," Levi retorted. "You've been unofficially keeping soldiers alive for months now. It's time to make it official."

As Erwin laid out the details of the new squad, Neil watched the emotions play across Mustang's face – surprise, doubt, and finally, a calculating determination. When Erwin finished, Mustang was quiet for a long moment before he spoke.

"What's in it for me?" he asked, his voice steady. "How does this benefit my sister?"

Erwin's expression didn't change, but there was a glint in his eye that suggested he'd anticipated this question. "More resources, better equipment. A higher chance of survival for you and your squad. And..." he paused for effect, "priority medical care for your sister, including experimental treatments we've been developing."

Mustang's eyes narrowed, clearly weighing the offer. Finally, he nodded. "Fine. But I choose my own team."

Erwin nodded, a small smile playing at his lips. "I expected nothing less. You have three days to submit your roster."

As the commander and captain walked away, Mustang turned to Neil, an unreadable expression on his face. "Well, kid," he said, "looks like you're about to get a promotion. That is if you're interested in joining a squad led by an, and I quote, 'insubordinate, reckless pain in the ass'."

Neil felt a grin spreading across his face. "Wouldn't miss it for the world, sir."

The next few days were a whirlwind of activity. Mustang threw himself into the task of selecting his squad with the same intensity he applied to battle strategies. Neil watched in fascination as he pored over personnel files, observed training sessions, and conducted interviews with potential members.

In the end, Mustang's choices surprised many. Alongside Neil, he selected Nanaba, whose cool head and excellent ODM skills had caught his eye. Dino, known for his unconventional thinking and adaptability, was next. And finally, Gus, a soldier whose quiet determination and unwavering loyalty Mustang admired.

When questioned about his choices, Mustang's response was characteristically blunt. "I don't need mindless drones," he said. "I need people who can think on their feet, who aren't afraid to question stupid orders if it means staying alive. In other words, I need people who value their own lives as much as I value my sister's."

Their first mission as a squad was a baptism by fire. What was supposed to be a routine patrol outside the walls quickly turned into a desperate fight for survival when they encountered an unusually large group of Titans.

Neil had thought he'd seen Mustang in action before, but this was something else entirely. Their captain moved like a force of nature, his blades flashing as he took down Titan after Titan. But more than his individual skill, it was the way he coordinated their movements that truly impressed Neil.

Mustang seemed to have an almost supernatural awareness of where each member of his squad was at all times. His orders were crisp and clear, guiding them to work together in ways Neil had never experienced before. It wasn't just about killing Titans – it was about keeping every single member of the squad alive.

As they finally made it back inside the walls, battered and exhausted but alive, Neil caught Mustang's eye. There was a fierce pride in the captain's gaze, mixed with something that looked suspiciously like relief.

"Not bad for our first rodeo," Mustang said, his voice gruff but with an undercurrent of approval. "Looks like I didn't choose a bunch of complete idiots after all."

Coming from Mustang, it was high praise indeed.

As the weeks turned into months, Neil found his understanding of Mustang deepening. He watched as their captain fought tirelessly, not for some grand ideal of saving humanity, but for the very tangible goal of keeping his squad – and by extension, his sister – safe.

Mustang's methods were unorthodox, often bordering on insubordination. He butted heads with superior officers, argued passionately in strategy meetings, and wasn't above using his charm (or his fists) to get what his squad needed.

But the results spoke for themselves. Under Mustang's leadership, their squad consistently had the highest survival rate of any unit in the Survey Corps. They took on the most dangerous missions, pushed the boundaries of what was thought possible, and somehow, against all odds, kept coming back alive.

It wasn't always smooth sailing. Mustang's temper was legendary, and his mood swings could be as unpredictable as Titan behavior. There were days when he drove them to the brink of exhaustion with grueling training sessions, and nights when he disappeared for hours, only to return smelling of cheap alcohol and regret.

But through it all, Neil never doubted Mustang's dedication to their survival. He saw the way Mustang analyzed every close call, the way he pushed himself harder than anyone to find ways to keep them all alive.

One night, after a particularly harrowing mission that had nearly cost them Dino, Neil found Mustang alone on the battlements, staring out into the darkness beyond the walls. As Neil approached, he could see the tension in every line of Mustang's body, the weight of responsibility that seemed to press down on his shoulders.

"You know," Neil said, coming to stand beside his captain, "nobody would blame you if you wanted to step down. The stress of command—"

"Is nothing compared to the alternative," Mustang cut him off, his voice low and intense. "Every time one of you goes out there, every time we face those monsters, I'm terrified. Not for you, not really. But for what it would mean if you died. One less shield between the Titans and my sister."

He turned to Neil then, his green eyes blazing with a fierce intensity that took Neil's breath away. "As long as I'm breathing, as long as I have any say in the matter, I will do everything in my power to keep this squad alive. Not for you, not for humanity, but for her. Even if it kills me."

In that moment, Neil understood. All of Mustang's quirks, his apparent disregard for the Corps' mission, his obsessive strategizing – it all stemmed from this unshakeable determination to protect the one person who mattered most to him. He pushed them hard because their survival was directly tied to his sister's safety.

As they stood there in companionable silence, looking out over the sleeping city, Neil felt a surge of respect and loyalty. He knew, without a doubt, that he would follow Aaron Mustang into hell itself if asked. Not out of blind obedience, but out of respect for a leader who fought not for glory or recognition, but for a love so fierce it had reshaped his entire world.

"You know," Neil said finally, a small smile playing at his lips, "for someone who claims not to care about us, you're doing a pretty poor job of it, Captain."

Mustang snorted, but Neil could see the ghost of a smile on his face. "Tell anyone and I'll have you cleaning latrines for a month, got it?"

"Yes, sir," Neil replied, grinning. "Your secret's safe with me."

As Neil's words faded into the night air, a contemplative silence fell over the small group gathered on the rooftop. The moon hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the ruined castle and bathing the world in an ethereal silver light. The gentle rustle of leaves in the cool night breeze was the only sound that broke the stillness.

Dino, who had been listening intently to Neil's recollection, suddenly straightened up, his eyes gleaming with a mix of determination and something darker, more somber. "You know," he began, his voice uncharacteristically serious, "I think I know why Mustang really cares about all of us. And it's not just about his sister."

Nanaba and Neil turned to him, curiosity etched on their faces. Even Gelgar, who had been dozing lightly, cracked open an eye at the sudden change in Dino's tone.

Dino took a deep breath, his gaze distant as he recalled a memory that seemed to weigh heavily on him. "It was our first expedition beyond the walls," he started, his voice low and intense. "Aaron and I had joined the Survey Corps at the same time, and we were both green as grass, full of piss and vinegar."

He chuckled humorlessly, shaking his head at the memory of their youthful arrogance. "We thought we were invincible, you know? Especially Aaron. He'd already made a name for himself in training, and he was eager to prove himself in the field."

Dino's eyes flickered to the horizon, as if he could see the events of that fateful day playing out before him. "Before we headed out, Captain Levi gave strict orders for everyone to perform maintenance on their ODM gear. Standard procedure, you know? But Aaron... he was too impatient, too eager to get out there and start killing Titans."

Neil's brow furrowed, a sense of unease growing in the pit of his stomach. He had a feeling he knew where this story was going, and it wasn't anywhere good.

"So we rode out," Dino continued, his voice growing tight with remembered tension. "And at first, it was... incredible. Aaron was like nothing I'd ever seen before. He moved like he was born to kill Titans, like gravity was just a suggestion to him. Erwin and Levi were watching him, and you could see the approval in their eyes. Hell, even I was in awe."

Dino paused, swallowing hard. When he spoke again, his voice was barely above a whisper. "But then it happened. We were deep in Titan territory, and Aaron's ODM gear malfunctioned. One minute he was soaring through the air, the next he was plummeting towards the ground."

Nanaba gasped softly, her hand covering her mouth. Even though they all knew Aaron had survived, the image of their captain falling helplessly was chilling.

"There was this veteran soldier with us," Dino went on, his eyes clouded with the memory. "Guy named Marcus. It was supposed to be his last expedition before transferring to the Military Police. He had a little girl waiting for him back home, and he was going to surprise her by coming back early."

The weight of what was coming next hung heavy in the air. Neil felt his heart constrict, already mourning for a man he'd never met.

"Marcus didn't hesitate," Dino said, his voice thick with emotion. "He changed course mid-air, abandoning his own safety to go after Aaron. He managed to grab him, to fire off his own gear and swing them both to safety. But..."

He trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. But he didn't need to. They all knew the price of heroism in their world.

"A Titan got him?" Nanaba asked softly, though it wasn't really a question.

Dino nodded, his jaw clenched tight. "Tore him right out of the air. Aaron... he saw the whole thing. Saw Marcus get devoured, knowing it should have been him."

The rooftop fell silent as they all processed the weight of this revelation. Suddenly, so many of Aaron's actions, his relentless drive to protect his squad, his obsessive attention to detail, all of it made a terrible kind of sense.

"Levi and Erwin never blamed him," Dino said after a long moment. "They knew the risks, knew that accidents happen. But Aaron... he's never forgiven himself. Every life he saves, every soldier he brings home... it's his way of trying to make up for Marcus."

Neil nodded slowly, pieces falling into place in his mind. "So that's why he's always so insistent on following orders, even if he does it in his own way. And why he pushes us so hard on equipment maintenance."

"Exactly," Dino confirmed. "He'll bend rules, he'll argue strategy, but when it comes to the things that directly impact our survival? He's a hardass because he never wants to be responsible for another death like that again."

As they sat there, each lost in their own thoughts, the night seemed to grow heavier around them. The revelation of Aaron's hidden guilt cast their captain in a new light, adding layers of complexity to a man they thought they knew.

Suddenly, Nanaba stiffened, her keen eyes scanning the horizon. "Wait," she said, her voice sharp with alarm. "Do you see that?"

The others followed her gaze, squinting into the darkness. At first, Neil saw nothing but the usual nighttime landscape. But then, movement caught his eye. Shadowy figures, massive and lumbering, were approaching from the distance.

"Titans," Dino breathed, disbelief coloring his voice. "But that's impossible. They're not supposed to be active at night."

Neil felt a chill run down his spine. "This isn't normal Titan behavior," he muttered, his mind racing with the implications. "We need to alert the captain."

Just as Neil was about to stand, a sound like thunder split the air. Before any of them could react, massive boulders came hurtling through the sky, crashing into the stables below with devastating force.

"What the hell?!" Gelgar exclaimed, fully awake now and on his feet.

As dust and debris settled around them, Neil's eyes were drawn to movement on the distant wall. His breath caught in his throat as he made out a massive silhouette perched atop the structure. It was a Titan, but unlike any he'd ever seen before. Its body was covered in what looked like fur, and even from this distance, there was an unsettling intelligence in its posture.

"It can't be," Nanaba whispered, her face pale in the moonlight. "Is that... the Beast Titan the captain mentioned?"

The realization hit Neil like a punch to the gut. This was what Aaron and Mike had encountered earlier. This was the threat they'd been warned about, and now it was here, bringing with it a horde of Titans that defied everything they thought they knew about their enemy.

"We're cut off," Dino said, his voice tight with tension as he surveyed the destroyed stables. "No horses, no easy escape."

Neil's mind raced, years of training under Aaron kicking in as he assessed their situation. They were outnumbered, outgunned, and facing an enemy that seemed to be rewriting the rules of engagement. But they weren't beaten yet.

"Dino, Gelgar, check if any of the horses survived and see if you can clear a path out of here," Neil ordered, falling easily into a leadership role. "Nanaba, you're with me. We need to wake everyone up and get them ready for combat. And someone needs to find the captain."

As they moved to carry out his orders, Neil cast one last glance at the Beast Titan in the distance. Its massive form was silhouetted against the moon, an ominous harbinger of the battle to come. Whatever happened next, Neil knew one thing for certain: they were going to need every ounce of skill and determination that Aaron Mustang had drilled into them if they hoped to survive the night.

The castle, which had seemed like a safe haven just hours ago, now felt like a trap. The air was thick with tension, the once-peaceful night shattered by the looming threat of the approaching Titans. As Neil raced down the stairs to alert the others, his mind was filled with a single, burning question: Where was Aaron Mustang, and would he be able to get them out of this impossible situation?