The Metal Titan

EREN

We were preparing for another expedition outside the wall. All were quiet, handling their chores, be it checking the horses, testing the gears or packing food. While normally everyone was trying to avoid these boring tasks, in such mornings they were welcomed gratefully as it kept our minds from the uninventable question: Will we make it back here alive?

I was loading firewood to a supply cart when Armin approached me.

"Eren, section commander Hanji is looking for you" he said and I knew him long enough to know something was bothering him.

"What is it Armin?" I asked.

Armin was trying to shrug it off as nervousness, and while I wasn't buying it for a second, I didn't think keeping Hanji waiting is a good idea so I let it go and went to look for the commander.

I found her in her room, leaning over a desk, studying a map that was spread out on it.

I debated whether I should announce my arrival or not, commander Hanji was not someone you would want to intrude, but then again, nor someone you would want to startle. Eventually I settled for a quiet "ehm…" to which Hanji replied with "At least twenty titans were spotted just outside the wall, the shortest being seven meters and the tallest eighteen meters".

Another "ehm…" was all I could come up with as a reply, then Hanji turned to me with a look of untypical seriousness: "Me and your friend Armin thought it would be best if you would turn to your titan form for this mission, normally I would avoid such step as your size as a titan makes it impossible for us to be discreet, but seeing as there are so many titans awaiting us outside, being discreet is no longer an option".

So that's what made Armin so nervous… I thought.

I always preferred fighting along my comrades as a regular soldier, but if taking a titan form means I would be able to protect them better then there was no doubt in my mind as to what I should do, so without hesitation I saluted "yes commander!".

Hanji saluted as well, nodded her head, and said "alright".

*~AoT~*

A/N: Don't judge my story based on this mini chapter (nor the next one), I'm only setting my chess pieces here…

I first came up with this story ages ago but there were just too many plot holes I had no idea how to fill.

Now that I finally read the manga I managed to complete the storyline and with the new season airing it seemed fitting to post it now…