Eren was sitting on a couch in a room above the courtroom and still almost couldn't quite wrap his mind around the recent turn of events. He truly was a member of the Survey Corps now, wasn't he? He was where he belonged. Officially under surveillance, yes, but otherwise free.
He'd be able to do something again. He'd wear his harness again. He'd make a change.
Long missed sunlight shone through the windows, blinding him in its afternoon glow, and painting the room with golden colours. It slowly withdrew the coldness that had persistently attempted to settle in his bones during the days spent in chilly dampness, replacing it with warmth.
The proximity of Captain Levi, who sat on the seat cushion directly next to him, only increased the feeling and an uncomfortable heat flushed Eren's cheeks as he thought about how he had flinched away involuntarily as Levi had sat down earlier. He owed that man his life. He shouldn't be scared. He wasn't.
Commander-in-Chief Zackly had just visited them to go through a few formalities, repeating Levi's obligations concerning Eren. The rules were clear: Keep Eren in order. Make sure the other soldiers are safe. Take precautions. Don't let him out of sight for too long until they could be sure of his loyalty. Kill him if they must.
Zackly had exited the room again. And shortly afterwards Commander Erwin had taken his leave as well, accompanied by Mike, to tend to other urgent matters.
Eren had kept his mouth shut during Zackly's visit while he had avoided to look directly at Levi who had been strikingly silent as well.
Now his concentration was directed at Hanji who had begun to tend to his wounds again. He—she? Eren couldn't tell for sure—eagerly washed off the crackled and dried blood on his forehead and curiously checked his ribs for serious contusions or broken bones.
"So, your blood is red too, huh?" Hanji wondered.
Eren was puzzled by their notation. How else should blood look like? "Eh, yes."
"Does it taste rusty as well?"
They raised the cloth to their mouth and sucked on it to try it. Levi hissed audibly.
"It does, indeed. Just like mine. How fascinating. Levi–"
"Disgusting," Levi interrupted them with a repulsed look on his face.
While Eren wondered if this comment was directed at Hanji, his blood or him in general, the former had already started a muttered monologue about possible reasons for Eren's tooth being already healed, but the slower fading of his scratches and contusions. Stress. Healing by seriousness of the wounds. Or by cell structure…
Eren tried to listen, but quickly couldn't keep up anymore while he forced himself to stay awake.
His stay in the musty dungeon had been tiring. Endless questions had filled his mind, making him nothing but angry about his situation. Additionally there'd been his constant unrest due to a potential Titan's counter attack just around the corner, with the perspective of being of no use if kept in chains. Then there'd come the tribunal…and the shock in the form of a foot hitting his stomach. When the verdict had been spoken relief and exaltation had flooded over Eren with full force, exhausting him immediately.
Now he was about to fall asleep as he was, sitting on a couch in the courthouse, next to Captain Levi himself. Eren didn't have to turn his head to know he was being observed. Instead he stared at the tip of Levi's boot that was pointed at him. It felt safer. To his irritation the boot looked absolutely spotless.
Hanji interrupted their mumbled soliloquy, threw their arms into the air, and stretched until their vertebras popped. "I'm starving! I'll get us something to eat." They yawned with a drawn-out howl.
"Mm," Levi agreed and Hanji left.
When they were alone Levi unfolded his legs to rise from the shared couch. He laid out his weapons onto a small table and started to maintain them.
Eren stayed put where he was, unsure of what to do or say. Was he allowed to lie down? He didn't want to ask.
Since the Captain didn't appear like he was about to start a conversation, Eren twiddled with his fingers and remained without a single word as well. For the first time in his life he wished for someone to tell him how he was expected to behave socially. Nobody had ever made him feel this insecure. Maybe he'd just have to get used to situations like this. Perhaps it just was what it meant to grow up.
He shot a quick peek at Levi for what felt like the umpteenth time.
Fortunately, it took Hanji only a few minutes to return with a couple of slices of bread and Eren relaxed considerably at their sight.
"Are you okay Eren?" Hanji inquired with big brown eyes, enlarged by a pair of thick glasses as they handed him his share of food. "Your ears are red and you're all sweaty. How is your heartbeat? Is it average?"
They placed their palm on Eren's brow. "Do you feel feverish? May I check your forehead? Oh wow, you're hot! Levi, look! Is it always this way, Eren? Please tell me. Oh! Have you ever measured the temperature of your body fluids?"
Eren stole another glance at Levi, hoping that Levi's demeanour would give him a hint whether or not this was supposed to be a serious question. In vain. Levi just clicked his tongue, but apart from that he didn't react at all.
"I… ahem. No?"
"Don't worry, most people don't," Hanji proceeded blithely. "But I could do it for you. What would you prefer?"
"Er…"
"Urine? Blood? Maybe spinal fluid? That last one would hurt, but if you'd be alright with it, that would be fantastic. It's some good stuff." They had slowly leant closer with glowing cheeks, their eyes growing bigger with every word. Eren could spot some drool running down their chin.
"Don't make him shit his pants during the first few hours already, four-eyes," Levi grumbled, rescuing Eren from having to answer. "You'll get your chance soon enough. Eren you may kick her if she gets too obtrusive. Consider this an official permission. She can take it."
The affirmation in Levi's voice irritated Eren. "I…what? I would never–"
"Ahh!" Hanji sighed as they leant back again and scratched the back of their shaggy head. "Don't be such a spoilsport, Levi!"
They both fell back into silence, and Eren with them. Hanji turned to a pile of papers and some notebooks they fished out of a bag. They seemed weird to Eren somehow. Still, he couldn't help but feel strangely at ease around their company. Their lively nature had a certain candidness to it and their hand that had wiped his face earlier had been careful and caring.
Wondering about the fact that Levi had called Hanji "she" right now and if he should ask about that, or if it even was important—probably it is not, he concluded quickly—Eren bit into a piece of wheat bread with luxurious butter. He hadn't had butter in years, not since wall Maria had been breached, and he couldn't hold back an nostalgic closing of his eyes at the soothing flavour. It was divine. It calmed him down instantly.
"Thank you, Hanji."
"You're welcome, Eren." Hanji sat on the floor again, cross-legged and munching a few slices of bread as well. They didn't care to wipe away the crumbs which fell onto the ground and soon were scattered all over their papers. They murmured unremittingly in a low voice while they scribbled down notes in an erratic handwriting Eren could not decipher. Every now and then they chewed on the pen instead of eating the bread and it gradually dyed their lips in a dark blue.
By the window Levi still sat at the table, tending to his weapons and answering an occasional question from Hanji. He regularly frowned at the mess Hanji made, but either he wasn't annoyed enough to complain or he didn't bother to start a fight he wouldn't win.
The irregular scratching of a pen on paper and the rhythmic sound of buttons being polished and knives being sharpened filled the room, accompanied by a casual exchange of words. Peaceful, Eren thought. This was so much better than the paralyzing noise of imprisonment and incapacitation under the accusing glances of indignant guards. This was familiar. It implied safety and security. They would protect him and he would protect them in return. Just as it should be.
Soon Eren's chin kept on falling down onto his chest in the middle of a bite and he repeatedly jerked his head up again.
"There is a cot in the adjacent room," Levi pointed out just as Eren had finished his last piece of bread. "We'll stay here until tomorrow morning. Get some rest."
Eren accepted the offer gladly. He sank down on the bed, fully clothed as he was, and almost the second his head touched the soft pillows he fell asleep.
One day later the old castle, that was supposed to be their new headquarter, appeared in front of them under a clear blue sky. Almost hidden in the middle of a forest, it had a somewhat secluded feeling to it as Eren thought. Maybe it was the lack of the constant presence of the walls. Of course they were still there, but not being able to see them every second he'd lift his head for a change felt foreign to him.
Apart from that he wanted to groan in blissful relief as the trees parted to reveal their destination. It took every bit of willpower he could muster to stay upright in the saddle for the last bit of their journey. He clung on to the bridle, clenched his teeth, and concentrated on keeping his movements in order.
Eren felt sore. His back was aching, his muscles had been about to shake out of exertion for a while now, and his arse was numb. Each step of the mare below him jolted uncomfortably through his joints, shaking him in his saddle. He hadn't been this long on a horse's back for a very long time and he was painfully reminded of how arduous this way of movement was. Also, he'd spent the last week nearly completely chained to a bed.
At least his powers seemed to give him an extraordinary quick and thorough healing so that the ache in his bones would probably have faded in a couple of hours. Hopefully. Come to think of it now, it might explain why most of his comrades had been assailed by muscle soreness much heavier and longer than him. Mikasa and Marco naturally used to dissemble it, former with a stoic expression and latter with forced smiles, but especially Connie and Sasha always had been moaning for days.
The perks of being a monster, Eren pondered grimly.
"You would want to train your skills, Eren," the soldier next to him, Eren remembered he'd introduced himself as Auruo, said. "Unless you want to become Titan fodder before you do anything useful for us. Riding is essential when you want to earn yourself your position in Captain Levi's squad."
"Yes."
Captain Levi's squad. It still hadn't felt quite real to Eren until he'd met the other four soldiers this morning.
Successfully oppressing a wince since his muscles wanted to disobey, Eren turned around in his saddle and met at a pair of coolish grey eyes that already were fixed on him. Eyes that had seen the outside of the walls. Eyes that knew freedom.
He had been sensing Levi's appraising stare the whole ride, as if he'd been attempting to burn a whole into his spine.
Levi held Eren's gaze. He didn't even blink.
Eren turned around again. Yes, he would train his skills. Riding, fighting, getting stronger. Everything. He would earn his place and make them proud. Regarding the rest of his abilities, Levi doubtlessly had a plan. He had been killing so many Titans for so long now and certainly knew so much more about them than Eren himself.
It is strange though, Eren thought. Seeing Levi like this almost didn't make someone believe he was supposed to be Humanity's Strongest Soldier. His whole appearance was unprepossessing and he was so…calm. If it weren't for his intimidating expression, Levi would almost look unimposing.
Of course he was everything but. Eren had seen Levi in battle and knew. It had only been for a few seconds—but oh, these few seconds. He'd been so fast and powerful. Like a merciless angel of death.
Eren resisted the urge to peer over his shoulder again.
As if his reprehension had loosened his words Auruo kept on talking to him. Eren tried his best to redirect his attention and listen intently. He didn't know what is was exactly, but Auruo had something to him that reminded him of Jean.
He gave a wheeze of sympathy pain when Auruo's horse jerkily moved over a big stone, making him jump in the saddle and bite on his tongue for the second time today.
"Are you alright?" Eren asked worriedly.
"Yes. Don't worry," Auruo confirmed. Given that he patted an already bloody tissue from before against his mouth and continued his speech airily, Eren concluded that this apparently happened frequently.
With the castle in sighting distance, they all seemed to spur their horses on in unison to quicken their arrival and Eren followed suit. The building was huge. According to Erwin's briefing earlier the other squads would join in the course of a week and bring the new recruits with them. For now, however, it would be solely the six of them.
The walls were heavy and made with stone bricks. It could easily be qualified as a fort in Eren's opinion. The courtyard alone was big enough for many horses and people to gather, though all the weed growing between the cobblestones indicated that this place had long been abandoned. Maybe for years.
Out of the corner of his eye, Eren could see a single cat dash away in a hurry. It must be a straying one and it probably was disturbed by suddenly having to share their chosen refuge with someone. Cats were a good sign. They wouldn't have too many mice with at least one of them around.
They all dismounted. Eren gave a silent praise at the fact that he achieved the task on his own without having to ask for help as he managed to swing his right leg over the saddle.
He was led to the stables around the corner and guided his mare into a box where he removed her harness, the saddle, and blanket underneath before brushing her dry and scraping out her hooves. He talked to her, even if most of it was only senseless and incoherent sentences.
"Let's give our best, yes? I'll give you lots and lots of hay." She should get used to his voice.
Just as he was about to look for a pitchfork for gathering some hay, a factual voice rang out. "You aren't used to riding long distances, are you?"
Eren looked about. He could hear the other's muffled chatter in the adjacent boxes but this statement had come from nearby. He spotted Levi who leant against a pole a few steps away. His arms were folded in front of his chest and now he came closer.
"No, Captain," Eren answered, willing himself to stare back. "That's right. I am going to train hard though and do whatever it takes. You'll see."
He could feel the mare behind him move her head and sniff his neck with her wet nostrils and warm breath. It tickled.
"Hm," Levi said. "At least they teach you how to do it, so we can skip the basics. Your resilience training begins tomorrow. Be here right after breakfast and bring your gear. For now we'll clean this filthy shithole of a headquarter. It's disgusting. There's dust everywhere."
Dust?
Levi's frown deepened into a grim scowl, and after shortly patting the mare's mane he turned around. "Follow me. Eld will take care of feeding her and the others."
"Yes, Sir," Eren confirmed and did as he was told.