Eren could only stand there in shock at the sight of what lay before him. A 15 metre class titan stood before him. He had to make a decision; stay and fight whilst he leaves Levi defenceless or run to the safest place at his disposal. With little time to think things over, Eren made hast for the closest means of safety. Even though the soldier was considered fast, the extra weight of another man slowed him down immensely, but under no means was he to slow down. With the titan gaining speed and the moans coming from the Captain's mouth entering his ears, Eren was becoming filled with jumbled thoughts and emotions. Confused, scared and desperate, his mind became blank of all ideas that were originally thought out.
"Eren… put…. Put me down and fight…." The muffled words were hard to hear beneath the panting, but Eren still heard them.
"What?! I can't leave you defenceless!"
"We don't have a choice…. You need to kill that titan… or we will both die… I can't be the reason you die…. I just can't" Eren could hear the pain in the leader's voice, not just from his wounds, but the pain of losing someone.
"And I don't want to be the reason why you die! How could I just let my saviour-"
"THAT'S AN ORDER EREN!" The Captain's usually calm words were now filled with command and urgency. During this convocation, Eren had forgotten his lethargy, even though he kept a steady pace of speed. At his raised voice, Rivaille started to spew up blood, soiling Eren's uniform even further. At the sight of his distress, Eren listened to his superior and stopped running.
"Captain!" The stomps of the titan's steps became louder and deeper with every passing second.
"Go Eren… I'll be fine…" Regretting even putting his commander down, Eren obediently but reluctantly followed his order.
Turning to face the titan, he could now see the creature up close, revealing details of its features; disgusting yellow teeth that favoured pieces of skin and bone lodged between the gaps, mangled grey hair that reached to its shoulders and demonic black eyes that showed the hunger it possessed.
"Hey there shithead, if you think you are getting anywhere near my Captain, you are very mistaken!" The large hand of the titan reached for Eren, but was met by the quick movement of Eren and his 3DMG. The current weather did not help Eren in the slightest, proving it hard to pinpoint safe places to land the cable. Still, with his vision blurred, he swiftly circled round the monster and attached the hook to its neck.
'Almost. I just need to cut the neck.'
But with this thought in his mind, he was shocked to feel his body being yanked towards the ground. The titan now had a hold of the cable and threw Eren downwards at an implausible speed. The body of the soldier was met by the hard cobble road, causing the left side of his figure to make intense cracking noises.
"Arghhhh!" He couldn't help but cry out in agony as his body turned numb from the shock.
"EREN!" Rivaille's voice cried, muffled by the clap of thunder.
Still in shock from the blow the titan inflicted, Eren forced himself upright, only to be met by a gigantic hand approaching him. Out of reaction, he moved his battered body before he could even process what was happening. But his movements were too rash, and out came another cry of pain.
Eren's thoughts were now completely muddled. He could barely move without agony rising through every inch of his body. The next few seconds became black as Eren squeezed his eyes shut to throw up his previous meal. Even with the foul taste and smell left in his mouth, he couldn't help feeling a sense of relief from releasing some discomfort from his system. Slowly, he opened his eyes to view the pool of waste lying before him. The soldiers head was pounding, bringing disorientation and dizziness to his movements.
Suddenly, Eren swiped his head over to the bloody figure lying in a doorway.
Levi.
That is the reason why he is fighting.
The reason why he can't give up.
Because it was an order.
Almost instantly, a spark of life came into the soldier. He could feel his muscles regain their previous strength and the grip return to his hands.
He had to fight.
He had to survive.
For Levi's sake.