Eren glanced behind him, yanking his jacket up around his ears. A cold wind was blowing and he didn't feel like catching a cold - he didn't need any more problems. Time would already have to be spent mending the sleeves the garment. Damn. I don't have time for that. I have better things to do with my life than cower and sew my clothing back together.
When he heard Mikasa's voice behind, asking when he was planning to return, Eren responded with only a non-committal snort. Foolish. You know she will make you answer. Stop wasting time.
"Soon."
"You cannot stay so mad at everyone Eren. Come back. You will get hurt out here without my help." Back. She meant to the base of course, the place their gang was based out of. It was really just a worn down building on the edge of the district. But if he was honest Eren knew that wasn't really what his adopted sister meant; she was speaking of much more then a building (or ramshackle excuse for one). He had to go back to his friends, keep helping the rest of them eek out a living. Keep hiding. He was one of the strongest there, excluding Mikasa. They needed him. That doesn't make it any less cowardly.
"How can I go back when everything around here is dying Mikasa? How can I run back to my place in the Wings and not feel like I have run away from everything that is hurting the people that live here?" His anger was uncontrolled and he knew it. Same as ever – I cannot even control my emotions enough to speak clearly.
"You can't save everyone Eren. You know that. So help those you can. But do not be rash and abandon the rest of the Wings! They need your anger and determination to drive them on. Otherwise they will only turn back to being what they once were. Now calm down and come back."
The Wings. The gang's name was strange in a way. Most names for groups of people like Eren, Mikasa and Armin were tough and cruel sounding, meant to intimidate. In a way the Wings' name was too – in full the title was Wings of Wrath. But it was too alliterative to sound good shouting out and besides, the gang wasn't particularly wrathful compared to what it once had been. Several years before Eren and his friends had joined the group had been led by a very different kid - Levi. Of course the term 'kid' could only be loosely applied in this context. Levi had been one of the most feared gang leaders and was a king among the people of the slums- strong, fierce and he could be controlled by no one. But Levi had left some time ago, joining the army of all things. Why do that when all of those fools just run when a Titan appears? Of course that was hardly fair. Many in the army were spineless cowards, but the ex-criminal most certainly did not fit in that group. Levi had joined the Survey Corps, and had become near legend. When will we be able to fight back the same way? Because I will not watch as more citizens die at the hands of Titans. We have to fight back somehow. We have to!
"I cannot hide from them anymore. I want to kill all of them! Every last Titan will fall!" Eren was furious, but all the same he knew what was going to happen once he said that. Anytime his fury got to strong Mikasa reacted the same way.
Sure enough Eren felt his legs get swept up from under him from under him. He rolled, cushioning the fall. "Don't act so rashly, and do not throw your life away! What do you want to do? Die? Only those trained stand a chance against the Titans, Eren and you know it. Think! Without me here you would be dead already. Do not go making yourself more in debt." Mikasa's voice was angry now, traces of fury suddenly welling up. She wasn't like this before the attack. She was always calm and serene. Now there is an anger in her eyes that rivals mine- when it shows. It was true. Though the girl did not let it show as much as Eren did she too had a furious hatred of the Titans. Hers however, was channeled into helping the gang fight and survive the Titan attacks as best they could.
Eren nodded, "I will come back. But we have to find some way to retaliate Mikasa. I don't want to sit here in the dark, never having seen the outside of the walls, unable to relax because of the Titan threat."
"I know. But there is not much you can do if you run away out of anger at the others in the gang. Not everybody is as willing to fight Titans. Most are happy with their place in a gang. Have patience." Grabbing his arm Mikasa gently lead him back towards the base house for the Wings.
…
"How are we supposed to fight against the Titan's?" Jean asked the question first, with Marco giving a nod of agreement. "We have enough trouble defending ourselves against our rivals without worrying for humankind. We don't want to lose our lives in a battle only soldier's fight!" Can they not see? The gang's territory matters little if the wall breaks like our homes did. But Eren knew the argument would not be won right away. Mikasa had convinced him to be patient. Not fun. Why can't I just yell at this guy? Everybody knew of Eren's short temper anyway – hell the whole city probably knew of his short temper and furious arguments. There was a reason Eren had a tattoo of a flame on his back – he was always the first of the lot to explode into anger. Biting back a retort Eren simply snapped;
"Just think on it Jean." After all there wasn't much else he could do. No matter how much he hated the Titians he would not let his wish to attack them destroy the Wings, he would not let the conflict tear them apart. Not when the gang was in troubled times anyway.
"Enough of that for now." Armin's voice sounded behind the two as he walked over. You have also changed, my friend. When they were young Armin had been the weaker one, the one needing help. Now the boy was as fierce as the rest of them in a fight. "Show me your shoulder Jean." It was a command, and Armin held out a small tube of cream.
Glancing over at the other gang member Eren noticed that Jean's normally loose brown-red jacket was pulled tight around his left shoulder. What did the idiot do now? Eren couldn't help grinning at Jean's refusal. Armin was also in charge of helping the members of the gang when injured. However, the blond kid wouldn't tolerate people trying to hide their pain. Foolish to keep hiding it that Jean, Armin will just get mad at you. Yep. There he goes. Right on cue Armin leant down and yanked the jacket to the side. Exposed was a new tattoo, one of wavy and sharp lines. It curled over the guy's shoulder, from just above the collarbone to about a hand's length down the back.
Marco winced at the red skin around the new ink. No wonder Jean was hiding it; Marco was always upset when his friend was in pain. It's a big one Jean. Didn't know you had the guts to get a tattoo. Suppose I have to stop teasing you about being weak now. Honestly, Jean had never been a weakling. It was just a way for both Eren and Jean to blow off some steam arguing. Sure, the heated confrontations had started with malice but both had changed since then.
Armin leaned down and handed Jean the tube of cream. "Rub it on you fool. It will dull the pain."
Eren smiled. Armin healing everybody, Mikasa scowling him, Marco being kind, Jean being stupid… the gang wasn't bad when he thought about it. He still had the pent up fury at the Titans and their evil… but the Wings was where he belonged. And they would make a difference against the Titans. Together. For once he was glad for Mikasa telling him to be patient. No matter how he loathed humankind's enemy how could he turn away from them? From his gang? They were fierce and loyal and… in a way they were his wings, in more that name. They made him whole.
