Fire and Ice

The once beautiful Russian fields had now been besieged by an artillery of snowflakes. Shapes of ice that weren't simply gentle drips of fluff and elegance, but were loaded ammunition let loose from cannons of cold, rolling mist. Trees once adorned with shimmering dew were now smothered with dresses of snow; their branches left barren after their leaves collapsed. Paved roads grew slippery as a grey, sickly mud grew from the accumulation of snow on dirt and sediment on rural and urban zones alike. Citizens hurried away inside their houses to escape the eventual barrage of sleet and snow, expecting a torrent of ice that would blanket the earth. They knew it had arrived.

The Russian Winter was here.

Howling winds nipped on the cheeks of a young Kai Hiwatari, who was being led by his grandfather out into the Wilderness. His eyes struggled to hold against the blistering gale, and couldn't recognise the diminishing numbers of people as they travelled further out of the city of Novosibirsk.

Novosibirsk was a fairly rich city, based in the South-western region of Siberia. Its people were fortunate to have enough power generated from a nearby hydroelectric power station to sustain a gradual growth. Its people had enough resources to hold out a lengthy winter. Although they had the means to survive, and somewhat thrive, the Russian climate was always problematic…it wasn't unheard of to witness losses due to hypothermia and severe frostbite.

So why was poor Kai Hiwatari being led to his own death? Surely the old man knew they could both lose their lives if they stayed out too long?

"Kai."

They had reached a small clearing the in the woods. Voltaire looked back at his grandson, revealing the same dull grey eyes that matched his grandson.

His face was heavy with sags and weathered from experience and trauma. His long sleet coloured hair trailed raggedly behind him, covering his hands which were held in each other behind his back as he walked. Winter had hardened the old man, but blizzards and hailstorms didn't seem to be the only thing Voltaire had seen in his past…

Kai stood at attention. Like himself, Voltaire only spoke rarely, but his words spoke volumes despite the little they were said.

"It's time."

Kai stilled. "Time for what, grandpa?"

Voltaire looked back up expectantly at the white sky. Mist continued to overwhelm the air and settle into the canopy of the forest. "There's a storm coming, my dear. It is imperative you are adequately prepared to fight your battles in the future."

The seven year old Kai was still too young to interpret his grandfather's message, but still felt uneasy at his premonition.

"You are one of us, Kai. It is my duty to teach you how to control your blessing." Voltaire turned around to face his grandson. "You have no choice, Kai. I can sense your future. It is grim. It is unforgiving. Not just you, my dear boy… but the rest of the world! The world shall burn, until there is nothing left but ash. Strife and terror shall plague humanity, and the ones we love shall all perish in its wake."

Kai felt his lower lip quiver and stepped back, trying to escape his words. Trying to pretend he never heard them at them all. But his eyes grew wet. His body trembled unconsciously.

Voltaire stepped forward and gripped his grandson's shoulders.

"I'm sorry, my boy. I hope you can forgive me." Voltaire closed his eyes and stepped back towards the forest mist, leaving the child alone in an open clearing.

"Grandfather! Wait! What do you m-"

Blindfolds gripped the young Kai's eyes and a pair of heavy arms latched around him. A stiff palm covered his mouth and muffled his screams, as his world faded into black.

"Hmm… no immediate family, no ancestral records and no trace of bloodline…" Erwin thought with a raised eyebrow. "Russian male, approximately 17-18 years of age, combat experienced and but no known information on ties to the motherland…" He sat up after finishing the report on the outsider that recently came in. Three in the morning was not an ideal time for the Commander of the Survey Corps to be cross-checking background research on a stranger.

"No known connection to any existing titan-shifter either…" Levi affirmed.

"Not that we know of, anyway." Erwin countered. "We aren't in a position to put our complete trust into strangers, especially regarding the betrayal of one Annie Leonhardt during the 57th expedition and its aftermath. The Corps is already fragmented at best and the Stohess district is still left demolished." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "What's worse is the people's support is wavering and we still haven't been able to extract information from our captive in the crystal. I don't see how the addition of a Kai Hiwatari will make things any better for our operations."

"His experience outside the kingdom is worth its weight. I can assure you his ability in combat is a sight to behold."

Levi finished off his coffee and got up off the couch. He strode towards a window and peered into the night sky.

"How many soldiers have you seen that can take down a titan without the use of Three-Dimensional Manoeuvre Gear? That in itself is a feat unmatched by any of our men."

"The potential Hiwatari has is hard to ignore, yes. But it often takes more than one person to turn the tide of war, let alone break a stalemate." Erwin looked up from the paperwork to face the Corporal. "I want a full assessment on the young man by tomorrow. I understand it would be foolish to turn away a free soldier, whatever his usefulness may be in the battlefield."

And with that, Erwin exited the quarters, leaving Levi staring into the night.

Sunlight shone brilliantly on the sparring fields. Pairs of soldiers practiced their fighting abilities to keep their physical and mental stamina up for direct use in the field. Not that it would be very useful, Kai noted.

Introductions weren't exactly smooth yesterday, seeing how he simply disregarded the rest of the team for their incompetence and unnecessary stupidity. Nobody was very keen on establishing friendships with a guy who would supposedly be on Mikasa's hit-list or the receiving end of Jean's anger. After all, who were they to put their trust in a stranger?

Kai didn't mind. It just meant less bullshit to deal with. He could handle himself well and could rely on himself. There was no need to look after a pathetic excuse for a team.

To his immediate vision, Arlert was fumbling around hopelessly against a triumphant looking Ymir, who was enjoying playing with her prey like a cat toys with a captured mouse. It was almost disturbing. Jaeger was competing brazenly against a calmer, quieter giant named Bertholt Fubar. Braus and Kirschtein were looking for openings in each other while Springer was trying to hold back from hurting Lenz.

Sighing, he remembered his own training days (heh, training torture more like), until the sound of paced footsteps entered his ears.

As luck would have its merry way, he was assigned to spar against none other than the one worth 100 soldiers. How fitting of his 'superiors' to test his ability.

Mikasa approached an aloof Kai. He was standing still, calmly basking in the golden rays. His eyes opened as his opponent spoke.

"Wake up Hiwatari. I have unfinished business with you." She stood in a battle-ready stance, fists tightly closed and eyeing the physical weak points. Solar plexus. Groin. Temple and side of the neck. This would be over very quickly.

"This wouldn't be about me defending Jaeger from your motherly harassment, now would it?" he smirked.

Mikasa flushed. "That is none of your concern! You have no right to intrude on our relationship!"

The surrounding combatants paused their bouts at the sound of her voice, surprised at the once stoic Mikasa raising her voice so harshly against another individual.

"It is when you disturb others from having a nice meal," he replied nonchalantly. "But by all means, if you want to castrate him for his protection then go ahead. I don't give a damn about you or your boyfriend."

By now, the two were encircled by the whole squadron. No one could resist to see the drama unfold.

More importantly, no one wanted to miss out on seeing an ass-whooping from Mikasa Ackerman.

He turned and started to walk off.

Mikasa would not let this go by unfinished. One clean strike to the back of the head and all the insults would stop.

No one would dare say such things again.

She released herself.

No one would stop her.

That is, until a hand caught the fist and twisted it around her back. Her red scarf held tightly against her throat. Surprise flashed on her face when she realised she was in Kai's hold.

"One word of advice. Don't."

She growled and tried breaking free of the hold with her free hand, only for it be caught and tied behind her captive one. She felt her red scarf pulled violently and felt its tight coil against her wrists. A sharp strike to the back of her left knee brought her to the ground in a heap.

"Perhaps you need a hearing aid…" he whispered into her ear.

Kai felt a fist on his cheek and stumbled backwards. Dammit, he was distracted.

"Stay away from her you fucking bastard!" Ah, none other than Kirschtein trying to defend his lady's honour. Touching.

Kai spat out blood. His eyes narrowed to slits.

"You have no idea what kind of hell you will pay, horseface."

Kai stepped further, his eyes emblazoned and reddening with every step he took. His muscles tensed and his stance became more predatory.

Jean, not one to take threats too well and absolutely enraged at hearing his affectionate nickname from a nobody like him, charged headfirst to avenge his crush.

Kai effortlessly side-stepped, grabbed Jean in a chokehold and held his body up with one hand. The spectators stood horrified as Jean started to clutch at his arms, desperately trying to break the grip. He found himself smashed against the ground before a series of heavy punches to the face were felt. Jean cried out and tried to cover his face, to little effect. It was only after the combined efforts of the rest of the combatants that Kai came back to his senses. Even the likes of Reiner and Bertholt were swatted aside trying to stop him. It took Armin's cries for peace to snap him out of his berserker trance.

An unconscious Jean was carried out to the infirmary hurriedly by Connie and Sasha. Armin and Eren set to work on untying Mikasa, who could only stare at the violence that had unfolded. She could feel both of their fingers trembling as they pried open the knots around her hands. She stood up gingerly, only to be met by her opponent's now vicious glare.

"I think I've made my point. Loosen the noose around those two and maybe you won't find yourself in one in the future."

The Russian gave one last look to the rest of the squad, and hurried back to his quarters. The rest stood frozen in shock and awe at what just happened.

Mikasa could not believe she had been dispatched so quickly. No one she had ever encountered had that kind of reaction speed. There was no way an ordinary human would have turned her own attack against her with minimal effort like that. How could she let this happen?

She looked down at the ground, trying to process her thoughts. Her own scarf, the same one so lovingly passed down by Eren, was used against her. It chained her.

Reiner and Bertholt gave each other nervous looks. They nodded and noiselessly left the fields, without anyone noticing. Ymir followed, just after consoling a teary eyed Krista.

Eren and Armin remained after the rest of the squad wordlessly left.

"He's a monster, Armin," Eren breathed. "He's too dangerous. He-He isn't human Armin!" His face paled.

Armin stood still. "He is. He isn't like us." He met Eren's gaze.

"He took down Mikasa like she was nothing! He…he…I…" he stuttered.

He wouldn't allow him to get away with insulting her like that again. Anger formed like an active volcano on Eren's face. Human or not, he didn't care. He would make sure no one gets hurt from him again. He raised his hand to clamp his teeth down, only to be stopped by Mikasa's arms.

"Don't be stupid Eren."

He looked up to see her grave face. His darkened expression met an equally intimidating one, and eventually he relented. His arm fell to his side and he sat on the ground, his head in his arms.

"We need monsters to fight monsters, don't we?" the step-siblings look towards their friend, who chuckled humourlessly. "If he was able to subdue Mikasa like that, and maim Jean without remorse, just imagine what we could do against a common enemy."

It was hard to argue against Armin. Neither sibling could contest his point, however badly they disapproved of the Russian's actions today.

"Maybe this is what humanity needs," he muttered. "A cold-blooded killer."