It'd been at least three months since Wall Maria had been breeched by the Titans. The mutated pirates came in on their ship and destroyed the wall of their floating city and wiped out more than half the population. Within the safety of Wall Rose there was an uproar. Who was to say the Titans wouldn't breech through their wall as well? It didn't seem at all difficult for them to break through the outermost wall, what was stopping them from doing it again? The chatter in the now crowded town was soon silenced as a group of pirates neared by. They weren't like the Titan pirates, they were human. Nevertheless, they still weren't your average buccaneers, no, you simply could not put a label on them. It was up to you if you wanted to call them good or bad, their motives weren't always morally correct, but these motives and actions for the most part have saved humanity. Among this band of pirates were their two captains, Captain Erwin Smith and Captain Levi. To most, Levi was the much more frightening one. What he lacked in stature, he made up for in his intimidating gaze. Said gaze met said boy on said street that one said day.
Eren swallowed but did not show vulnerability as the captain stared down at him as he walked on by. People began to chatter mixed feelings as they made their way through. The band of misfits made their way to the loading dock and Eren could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. They'd be setting sail tomorrow. Before he could start running there was a hand clasped tightly on his shoulder. He whipped his head around and stared his sister in the eyes.
He knew this was something he'd eventually have to confront so he smiled reassuringly at her and eased back on his heels. He wouldn't be running for that dock. Not today.
Eren could see his friend Armin wheedling his way through the crowd with some loafs of bread in his arms. He handed it to both him and Mikasa and he ate it gratefully. If he was going to be a pirate, he'd have to get used garbage they called food on those ships. Right now would be the last time he'd eat like a king.
The three had trotted back to the shelter for victims of Wall Maria. Eren made sure to pack once he was completely sure that both Armin and Mikasa were asleep. There was no way he'd let them come along with him on his journey. While he would miss them and he wasn't sure if he'd ever see them again, he wanted their safety to be absolute. Well, as safe as they could be. Sure more Titans could break through this wall but Mikasa was tough. The pirates on the open sea, however, that was a whole different ball game. There was no telling what would happen to him, he wasn't even sure if they'd let him on the ship but it was definitely worth a shot. He'd probably have a better chance if he talked to Captain Erwin instead of Captain Levi. He could still feel that icy cold stare he'd given him that day.
As the sun sank so did his heart a little bit. Mikasa and Armin were fast asleep when Eren took his leave. He turned at the door to take one last look at his dear friends before he made his way to the dock. The streets were bare and the ships were still tied, he could feel himself picking up the pace when he hit something and fell to the ground. He grunted as he looked up to see what—or who it was he ran into. Oh hey would you look at that. Eren Jaeger had the worse fucking luck in the world. Of course it was Captain Levi. It wouldn't be anybody else. He swallowed as he stood up and looked (down) at the captain. He hadn't realized how short he really was until he was standing next to him.
"Sorry," he said eventually as the captain made no sudden movements and or gestures toward the boy. Eren tried test his luck.
"I want to join your crew, Captain Levi." He said affirmatively. A half second past and Captain Levi already turned on his heel and started walking away. Eren's jaw slackened as he reached a hand to grab the captain's shoulders and all of a sudden he was on the ground, boot in his face.
"You dare touch a Captain?" his voice was like iron, it was a lot deeper and stern than Eren thought it would be. Eren grunted as he pushed his boot harder into his jaw. He leaned closer to the boy as he spat, "You wouldn't last a second kid." With that, the boot was off his face and he began walking away. It was like this wherever he went. There were always kids who thought they ruled the damn world and wanted to join their crew thinking it'd be fun and an adventure to travel on the seven seas. Those were the kids Levi hated the most, they didn't understand that it wasn't a game, it was life and in life people die. In this world, there happens to be more death than usual and that was something these damned kids couldn't realize. Levi usually stalked the streets at night time at whatever village they were at to scare away any kids that tried to sneak on their ship. A good boot to the face usually scared them off, but not this kid as he crawled forward and clung to Levi's boot. He raised a brow. Never had a kid crawling back for another kick in the face.
He swung with his other foot swiftly and hit the kid in the back, letting out a loud cry. The kid didn't move and for a second Levi almost felt kind of bad. He stood there, he actually stood there to see if the kid would end up groveling back to him. Slowly the boy bawled his hands into a fist and shifted up his weight so he was sitting up, fists on his knees. It was all too obvious how hard he was trying not to cry angry tears. He looked up at him and it was the first legitimate angry gaze he'd received in a long time. This boy wasn't angry about the beating however, he wasn't even sure if he was angry at him anymore.
"I don't care how many times you have to beat me, Captain, no matter how many times, I will make sure I get on that ship to fight against Titan pirates. I don't care if you don't like that idea or not, but I have faith in humanity, and I refuse to sit here idly while it continues to be wiped out."
Ah, he was like that was he then. Levi held his gaze and narrowed his eyes. He stalked closer once more and the boy didn't flinch as he grabbed his collar and drew him near. "You understand that this isn't a fucking game and that children like you aren't meant to fight against those monster on the open sea correct? You know your ass may very well die on our ship?" He couldn't believe he was actually evaluating a kid probably not even over the age of eighteen. The boy nodded, eyebrows still furrowed. Levi loosened his grip and hoisted the boy to his feet. It'd been a while since he'd seen set determination like the boy in front of him.
"Don't think you're one of us kid, you're not a pirate, you're a cabin boy. You'll be doing all the runt work, don't expect to be out on the deck much except for the times when you'll be scrubbing it." Eren smiled widely as the captain headed for the ship and he followed him right on his heels. He didn't care if he had to do the runt work, eventually he'd prove himself worthy of being a pirate and fighting for the lives of other people. He gave Wall Rose one last look as he boarded the ship that was set to leave at dawn.
