At Work Today
Some funny stories about Eren, Armin and Mikasa's days in the Scouting Legion. (Set during the month before the 57th expedition.)
I don't own Attack on Titan.
Chapter 3: Growing Up
Eren frowns at his reflection in the men's bathroom mirror. He leans closer. There's a pimple on his cheek, but that's not what's bothering him this morning.
There's something on his chin. Eren touches it; it's hair. Not the baby peach fuzz he's used too. Proper facial hair, the beginnings of a beard.
Well it's about time, he supposes. Several guys from his training squad already have facial hair. Reiner, Bertholt, Johan, even Armin just started shaving a couple of weeks ago. (A couple of weeks ago feels like forever now.)
He doesn't really want to grow a beard or moustache though, so he'll need a razor.
Eren's on breakfast duty with Commander Erwin and Captain Levi's Special Operations Squad today, dishing out toast and cereal. He asks them if they're going into town today.
'What's it to you?' asks Eld, bringing out another pile of bowls.
'Um, I need to buy a razor,' says Eren.
'What do you need a razor for?' asks Oluo, suspiciously.
'For shaving.'
Petra, laying out cutlery, peers closely at Eren's face.
'Oh my. You're growing up, Eren.'
Eld and Oluo grin at him.
'The next expedition to town will get you one,' Levi decides. 'This will be your first time shaving, right?'
'Yes.'
'We'll have to be careful then. Don't attempt anything until I tell you.'
Squad Leader Hange and one of her teams are also on breakfast today, and she pops out of nowhere, with a knife, to examine Eren's face. It's a short, slender knife, dripping red.
'Oo, how long has it been this long, Eren?' she grins. 'Is this one day's growth? Two? Have you got adult hair anywhere else?'
Eren nearly drops the jam. His face burns red under Squad Leader Hange's fingers.
'Squad Leader Hange!' Petra squawks. Eld and Oluo burst into laughter. Commander Erwin hides a smile under a cough.
'Oi, Hange, go finish cutting the tomatoes,' Captain Levi growls, coming to Eren's rescue.
Armin, who's up early today, even though he's not on breakfast duty, wanders in. Eren hopes he didn't overhear Squad Leader Hange.
'Do you want to borrow my razor, Eren?'
'That's unhygienic,' says Captain Levi. 'He can put up with a bit of hair for a day.'
XXX xxx XXX
The next day a couple of Squad Leader Mike's teams go shopping in the morning while everyone else is busy with training or maintenance. Eren helps the vets out in the morning and cleans toilets in the afternoon. Connie calls this the double-shit-shift. By the time he's had a shower the shopping expedition are back and having afternoon tea.
Captain Levi waves him over to his table.
'After afternoon tea, we'll go outside and have you try shaving,' he says, gesturing for Eren to sit down with his milk. 'It'll be like the previous experiment.'
'Um, will I be down the well again, Sir?' Yum, they've got shortbread biscuits today.
'No, but we will be acting with the same caution, in case you cut yourself and transform.'
'Yes, Sir.' Eren really hopes he won't transform. There are too many everyday things turning into potential disaster. He was only allowed to cut his own food up after nearly a week here.
Twenty minutes later, the Special Operations Squad, plus Hange and one of her senior science assistants are outside with a small table and shaving kit. There's a bowl of hot water, soap, shaving cream, a razor and a towel. The Special Ops have their swords ready (but this doesn't worry Eren as much as it did last time).
What looks like the entire Scouting Legion is lurking around to watch the spectacle, though they're supposed to be working. Yeah, he can totally see them peering from the stables and perched all over the castle.
Captain Levi is standing next to Eren, holding the razor. Any one of the guys could have shown Eren how to do this, but it has to be the captain, in case Eren transforms.
'Wash your face first,' says Captain Levi. 'Now dry it. OK, now rub this over your lower face, wherever there's hair.'
The shaving cream looks like whipped cream and is cold on Eren's skin.
He reaches for the razor, but Captain Levi pushes his hand down.
'I'm gonna do the first few strokes so you get a feel for it. Hold still.'
There's someone snickering (sounds like Squad Leader Hange and some of the 104th Training Squad, who are meant to be horse-riding).
Captain Levi holds Eren's head still with one hand and carefully, precisely, shaves a line down Eren's cheek with the other. The razor is simple steel blade with a wooden case attached by screw. The blade make Eren's skin prickle.
After a few strokes, he gets to try it himself.
Scrape. Scrape. Scrape.
'Slower,' breathes Captain Levi's deep voice. He guides Eren's hand to show him. 'Gentle, like you're taking the top off an egg.'
One cheek is slowly wiped clean. Under his nose is harder; the cream tickles there. He does his other cheek himself. Then down, over the edge of his jaw.
There's a stinging pain. Captain Levi's hand casually lands on his 3D Maneuver Gear handle. The Special Ops Squad tense up.
Eren looks at the blood under his chin in the mirror, shuts his eyes, and takes a deep breath.
That was an accident, he tells himself. I don't need to transform. I'm not going to transform.
'Eren?'
'Sir.' Eren opens his eyes. 'Sorry. I'm OK.'
He finishes without any other injuries, to everyone's relief. Captain Levi makes him wash his razor properly, and wipe leftover shaving cream off his neck and hair (how did it get on his eyebrows?).
His cheeks feel cold and smooth, but a little rougher than they used to be. Eren feels older now, a little more grown up.
'For the time being, you'll shave out here, under my, or the Special Ops Squad's supervision,' Captain Levi tells him.
Ah. The grown up feeling is gone.
