Chapter 3: Mistakes

Time skip to next morning:

Your POV:

I couldn't sleep last night with my mind racing. So I went out to do some training early before breakfast.

I make my way to the Mess Hall, even more exhausted, to have breakfast. Eren sees me walk in and waves his hand to an empty seat beside him. Looking around I don't see any empty seats anywhere else, so I get my trey of food and sit down next to him.

Jean, Mikasa, Armin, Sasha, Connie, Reiner, Bertolt, Krista and Ymir were sitting at the table as well. They seemed excited to have me there, probably so they could bombard me with more questions. But today, I really wasn't in the mood. Usually I avoid answering or change the subject, but I'm growing more frustrated in my sleep deprived state.

"Alright, me first today!" Sasha announced to the table, "Where did you learn how to fight?"

"Come on, you're her roommate, you can ask her questions all the time," Connie whined, "I want to know where you lived before you joined the scouts."

"She already said, 'nowhere' the other day, idiot," Ymir smirks, "I want to know how old she is."

They all started arguing about the questions each of them wants to ask. It doesn't matter, I never really answer them anyway, so why are they arguing? But anger was starting to boil up inside me as I slam my hand down on the table, silencing all of them.

"I don't understand what you think is so special about me, that makes everyone question me all the time," I growl to them, "we all have things we don't talk about, why am I the only one who's personal business is always in question?"

"Like you, Krista," she jumps as I mention her name, "Your fake over the top kindness isn't fooling anybody. It's so disingenuous to the point where it makes some people uncomfortable. But no one talks about that."

"Ymir, the connection between you and Krista is so obvious, but you two just walk around like it's not a thing. Can you just bang it out and get it over with?" Ymir smirks as she side eyes Krista, who is now fully red in the face.

"Eren, your obsession with titans makes you blind to the obvious non-familial love Mikasa has for you, and it's frustrating." Mikasa pulls up her scarf a bit and shifts uncomfortably in her seat, and Eren narrows his eyes at me.

"Jean, the tension between you and Eren is so forced and nonsensical, because of your obvious feelings for Mikasa, it is exhausting to witness."

Everyone at the table falls silent, even the table behind us which sat most of our superiors also listening in on my little outburst. Which is definitely a little embarrassing, but I'm too tired to care about possible repercussions.

"My point is," I continue as I try to calm myself down, "we all have things we don't talk about. So instead of worrying about my life, maybe deal with your own issues."

I go back to eating my breakfast quietly, I may have went over the top, but hopefully they will leave me alone after this. The idle chit chat continues around me, and I can hear Hange giggling behind me. I finish my breakfast quickly and leave before anyone else can ask me anymore questions, or comment on my little rant.

I went about the rest of my day pretty quietly. I was trying to finish my chores in a rush, because I was hoping to get in a power nap before dinner.

"So, what was that all about back there?" I jump as I hear Levi's monotone voice coming from the doorway of the room I was cleaning. "What was what, sir?" I ask innocently, as I continue sweeping the floor. "I've never heard you yell before, it was kind of refreshing." Levi comments as he walks closer to me, "But speaking as your superior, get it together. You're the mysterious one, of course they are going to ask you annoying questions."

"I just didn't get any sleep," I mutter, hoping that was enough to satisfy his curiosity... It wasn't.

"Did something happen between you and the Titan brat?" He asks quietly, staring at me intently.

I pull my hood down nervously, "No sir, I was only helping him with his hand to hand combat." Levi continues to stare at me quietly, "I see, I guess he wanted someone else's expertise from the underground, huh?"

I stiffen at his words, at least he can't see the terrified look on my face. "I don't know what you mean, sir." I go back to sweeping, hoping beyond hope he will just leave.

"Don't lie to me, brat. I can tell you're from the underground, your fighting style gave you away." He says, studying me silently as I continue sweeping.

Knowing he probably won't get much more out of me, he turns and walks out the door. I stop sweeping and lean against the wall, waiting for my heart rate to go back to normal.

It's okay, knowing I'm originally from the underground doesn't give away my identity. Calm down, (y/n).

I finish sweeping the room, and quietly made my way to my room. I sigh happily as I notice my roommate, Sasha, isn't here and I collapse onto my bed. I fall asleep right as my head hits the pillow.

Eren's POV:

I think we were all a little taken aback at (y/n/n)'s rant during breakfast. But I think I knew her frustration at our constant questions was growing, and she was going to burst one day.

We all felt a little bad, and decided to leave her alone for the rest of the day. I headed to the Mess Hall to get my dinner, I was a little late getting there, so it was almost full.

I look around for (y/n/n), maybe I should apologize and convince her to sit with us again. Disappointed, I made my way over to Sasha, "Hey, have you seen (y/n/n)?" Sasha giggled, "Yeah, she's fast asleep in our room."

"Why didn't you wake her up? She's going to miss dinner at this point." I sighed, setting my tray down next to her. "No way, I've tried waking her up before, trust me, it's not fun." Sasha said, shivering.

"Save my seat." I say as I get up and jog out of the Mess Hall, heading towards the women's dorms. I remember where their room is, one night Sasha ate so much she passed out into a food coma, and I had to carry her to her bed.

I reach their door and gently open it. My eyes land on (y/n/n)'s sleeping form. She lays on her stomach, probably to keep her hood from coming off in her sleep. I approach her nervously, and began to gently poke her, "(y/n/n), you're going to miss dinner, wake up." She mumbled and pulled the blankets up over her head, "Don't care."

I ripped the blankets from her, "If you're not going to get up yourself, I'm going to carry you."

I was surprised when she actually pulled her hood back, to give me a dangerous glare, "You wouldn't." She growled ominously. Before she could protest further, I grabbed her and threw her onto my shoulder. "Struggle all you want, there's a good chance your hood will come off in a scuffle." I smirk as her body stiffens and she reluctantly allows herself to be carried.

We get some odd looks when we reached the Mess Hall. I set her down so she can go and grab a tray, "I saved a seat for you next to me, hurry up." She waves me away, grabs her tray and follows me.

Erwin's POV:

I watched as Eren carried (y/n/n) into the Mess Hall. I should have thought about saving her a spot at the table I was sitting at. I had thought about going to get her myself. I was disappointed to see him beat me to it. The other cadets greet her as she takes her seat next to Eren.

Hange and Nanaba start whispering to each other, so I look curiously over at them. It is dinner time, this is usually the time they like to annoy (y/n/n). I'm guessing they have something planned.

"I hear she came from the underground," Nanaba said loud enough to get (y/n/n)'s attention, "They say she moved to the underground voluntarily, to escape the men that pursued her above ground." She turns herself around in her seat to look at (y/n/n).

"They say she was purposed to by 500 men, some of whom were already married," Hange added, "but she denied them all, even the rich ones."

"But that didn't deter them," Nanaba says dramatically, "They still made their way down, the threat of being robbed or murderer far from their minds. Their thoughts were only consumed by her beauty and only wanted to gaze upon her for even a minute."

Ah, I see, it's one of these. Sometimes they will go back and forth like this, making up stories about (y/n/n), trying to get her to admit something. Last time it was, a noble woman who was shunned from Sina society, because of a facial deformity,' and before that it was 'a poor woman, who's face was left scarred after protecting a child from a rabid dog'.

"600," Nanaba and Hange were silenced when they heard (y/n/n) speak up. They seemed a bit shocked, I was too, usually she just ignores them when they go on like this. Even Levi put his tea down, and watched the situation with interest.

"600," (y/n/n) repeated, standing up from her table. She sits on Nanaba's lap, straddling her legs between hers, and runs her fingers through Nanaba's short blonde hair, "500 men, and 100 women, I had an effect on everybody."

(Y/n/n) pulls her hood back slightly, showing a seductive smile. My eyes were drawn to her smile, it was a beautiful smile. I held my breath, hands balled into fists as I watch the scene unfold.

Nanaba is completely still, shocked, her hands land on (y/n/n)'s hips, "Does that sound familiar, Nanaba?" She whispers, bringing her face closer to Nanaba's, "Seriously? That's not even one of our better guesses." Nanaba said breathlessly, anticipating (y/n/n)'s next move.

(Y/n/n) grabs Nanaba's hair, yanking her head back to place a gentle kiss on her neck.

Everyone from my table and her's were watching, some of whom were also holding their breaths.

"Nope. But nice try." (Y/n/n) smirks, stepping off of Nanaba's lap. She sat back at her table like nothing happened, and ate her meal silently.

The rest of us were still shocked, I couldn't get over this new side of (y/n/n). How can you find someone so attractive and seductive without fully seeing them?

A few of the men sitting at her table excused themselves, without finishing their plates. Levi left his tea and excused himself from our table. Hange and Nanaba were still a little stunned at her sudden change in disposition, not expecting (y/n/n) to play along, I imagine.

This woman may be the death of me.

Your POV:

As I was finishing my dinner, I noticed some of the men around me leaving their dinners behind and leaving the Mess Hall. I smirk to myself, I figured that would work. Turn on a bunch of sexually frustrated soldiers, and they will leave you alone to 'take care of business'.

I finish my dinner and decide to head to the library. Usually I wait until a little bit later to shower, since that's when most people have finished and are heading off to their dorms.

Entering the library, I see Armin sitting at a dimly lit table. That's not too surprising, he is here quite a bit.

"Hey (y/n/n)," Armin greets me, looking up shyly, "always nice to see someone else here." I nodded politely and sit myself down at one of the empty tables.

The library has a decent amount of books, but it can't compare to the ones in the capital. Whenever I needed an escape, while I was there, I would make my way to one of the libraries. They had a lot of interesting books, especially the ones that mention the world beyond the walls.

Most of them are classified, but I had my ways to get to them. I remember knowing about these books, and I know I have read them. But that knowledge seems to be hidden away in my subconscious, along with the other bits of my memories that I can't quite remember. I try not to think too much about my memory loss, I have theories about what may have happened... But nothing I can prove.

I'm feeling pretty tired, maybe I will nap for a little bit instead of reading. It's always nice and quiet in here, unlike my room with Sasha there. I shut my eyes and drift off for a quick power nap.

...........

I wake up a couple hours later. The candles at my table have almost burnt out, and it looks like Armin has left.

I stretch out my limbs, and head to the women's showers. Damnit, I forgot to get a change of clean clothes. I run quickly to my room to get a fresh pair of clothes. I keep forgetting to do laundry... Shit.

The only clean clothes I can find is a black tank top and a tight dark green pair of pants. It'll have to do. I quickly grab another pair of underwear and a bra, and finally make my way to the showers. I sigh with relief when I see that no one is around. It always feels nice to take my hood off when I shower.

Hanging all my clothes on the hooks, I take a quick look at myself in the mirror.

Tired (e/c) eyes look back at me, I sigh as I undo my braid and rub the tightness out of my scalp. Running my fingers through my (h/l) (h/c) hair, I admire the gentle waves left by the braid.

I pulled the curtain and turned on the water. I avoid looking down, I never like looking at my scars. I don't want to trigger too many bad memories. I showered as quickly as I could, not wanting to stay for too long without my hood. I turn the water off, and wrap a towel around my body.

I pull on my tank top and pants and start to towel dry my hair in front of the mirror. I don't like wearing tank tops, it shows a long gash along my left bicep. Courtesy of the kind people from the underground that hate my father. And who can blame them, I hate him too.

Lost in thought, I didn't hear the door open and shut. "Who are you?" A confused female voice demanded from behind me. I jumped so high I probably would have reached higher than Mike stands. In my haste to run and grab my hood, I tripped over my own feet and smacked my forehead on one of the benches, by the showers.

"Shit!" I groan and hold my forehead as it starts bleeding.

"(Y/n/n)?" It was Hange. She walks around and grabs my signature hood, still hanging up on its hook.

"Come with me," she said gently, offering me her hand to help me up. I nod and let her pull me up. I move a little too fast and get really dizzy.

Hange steadies me and hands me my hood. I throw it over my head and follow Hange out of the shower room.

She leads me to her office and closes the door behind her, "I'll get some supplies to fix you up," Hange murmured as she sat me down in a chair by her desk, "I'll be right back." She dashed out of the room, leaving me to silently freak out.

Damnit! What am I going to do now? Does she recognize me? Will she keep quiet if she does? It's Hange, you can't tell her anything without her telling everybody else. She doesn't do it maliciously, she just likes to talk, and sometimes she just says too much.

I take my hood off and press it to my bleeding forehead. No point in wearing it now, might as well leave it off so she can look at my forehead properly.

Hange was pretty quick, she came in with some clean towels, an alcohol solution, and a suture kit. She brings some candles closer to me, getting a better view of the cut.

I remove my hood from my forehead, and she examines it closely, "It doesn't look like you'll need stitches, I'll just clean it and wrap it up." I nodded and tilted my head up so she could begin.

"So I guess I lose." Hange chuckled as she poured the alcohol solution on a clean cloth. "Sorry?" I question her, wincing a bit when she holds the cloth to my forehead.

"There is a bet going on about why you wear the hood," she explains, "I had my money on big ugly scar." I glare at her in response, "You were placing bets? Who else? I want names."

She laughs, "I'll tell you, if you tell me your real name." I fall silent, and Hange decides it's probably best not to push me too far.

It's hard to tell if she knows who I am or not. I don't think she does, I feel like she would have said so by now. She did ask for my name... but maybe she recognizes my face? I'm too afraid to ask, and too frustrated by stupidity and clumsiness.

Hange finished cleaning my cut and tapped some gauze to my head as there is a knock on the door. "Section Commander Hange, Commander Erwin asked me to come get you, the meeting is being relocated to the Mess Hell, oh..." Jean walks into the office and freezes as he sees me, sitting next to my blood stained signature hood.

"No way," I hear Jean whisper, and without another word he bolted from the room. Before Hange could stop me, I hop out of the chair and chased after Jean.

Levi's POV:

I head back into the Mess Hall with my tea, irritated when I still didn't see Hange.

"Where the hell is shitty glasses?" I growl at Erwin, "hasn't Kirstein come back with her yet?"

Erwin sighs, looking over at me as I take my seat, "Not yet," he shuffled some papers around, "but he hasn't been gone for that long."

Eren, the rest of my squad and Mike chat aimlessly amongst themselves as we wait for Hange to arrive. All of a sudden we hear shouting in the hallway... great, what the hell is she up to now? Always so loud.

I hear footsteps running around the perimeter of the Mess Hall. Good, the faster shitty glasses gets here, the better. But she better not be sweaty or I'm pushing her ass into the nearest bath.

We hear something heavy hit the ground and some muffled struggling, "What the fuck is she doing?" I sigh in frustration; curiosity getting the better of me, I stand up from the table to go see what is going on.

Followed by Erwin and Mike, we walk towards the source of the noise. Looking around the corner, I see Kirstein laying on his back with some girl with wet (h/c) hair perched on top of him, covering his mouth.

"What the hell is going on?" Erwin demands. The girl stiffens, but doesn't turn around. Who the hell is this girl, I don't recognize her as any of the cadets.

When she doesn't move, Mike steps over to them and lifts her off of Kirstein. The girl glares at him, but refuses to look at the rest of us. She seems to be injured, judging by the gauze on her forehead.

"(Y/n/n)!" I hear Hange shout, as she appears around the corner.

The girl immediately looks up at Hange, terrified. "Sorry," Hange mouthed at the girl.

"Wait, this is (y/n/n)?" Mike asked Hange, while still holding onto the girl, "yes." She said softly.

I was shocked and a little disappointed. Shocked, because I genuinely didn't expect her to turn out to be as beautiful as she is. Disappointed, because I lost the bet.

"I win," Mike says cheerfully, "I was the only one who guessed that she was secretly really pretty."

(Y/n/n) rolled her eyes, and Mike finally puts her down. "I think we should take this to my office." Erwin instructed us.

I waved my squad away and followed behind Erwin, Mike, Hange and Kirstein toward Erwin's office.