Set slightly before the imfamous trial scene. Enjoy!

The first time Eren knew he was in for an uphill battle with his shifting ability was when he woke up chained to a bed in the bowels of a dungeon.

He sat up on the mattress of his bed, completely disoriented, going to rub the sleep out of his eyes when the sharp, metallic tugs of a pair of shackles jarred him fully awake. What the hell?

'Bout time ya woke yer ass up.

Eren blinked, trying to clear his foggy vision.

Where am I?

His titan snorted. In a cage. I hate cages. Stupid humans, they can't restrain us for long.

Then his teal eyes landed on two men outside his prison. He recognized them instantly having seen them ride through Shiganshina many times: Commander Erwin Smith and Captain Levi of the Survey Corps. Hardened veterans, these men were held up as the standard of what a freedom fighter was supposed to be. Emotionally detached. Stoic in the face of terror. Utterly fearless, devoting their hearts so the dream of humans living beyond the walls could become reality.

But judging by their intense scrutiny they seemed to be sizing him up. Under their probing gazes Eren felt naked, every flaw exposed. He felt nine years old again.

Levi was by far the scarier of the two men. The dark aura surrounding the short man was intimidating as hell and Eren found himself shrinking back, much to his titan's chagrin.

Stop squirming brat. Why so afraid? He's just a pipsqueak with a bad attitude.

He'll kill us if we step out of line.

Huh. You'd think these losers would be a bit more grateful. We cleaned up the city. We killed all the titans. We saved their precious supply station. And they thank us by throwing us in a cage. Heh. Gotta love human hypocrisy.

Eren didn't have time to answer.

"We've come here to ask your intentions."

Intentions? He stared at the bigger man, fully aware of humanity's strongest pinning him with that cold, piercing glare. What kind of stupid question is that? It should be obvious.

You've got words. Use them.

Eren bowed his dark head.

Why don't WE tell them. Together.

"Well brat?" Levi's dark baritone cut through his thoughts. "Answer the question."

When he raised his head both men outside the dank cell read the wild, sadistic gleam in his teal green eyes.

"I wanna join the Scouts. And kill as many titans as I can, sir."

If he hadn't been looking straight at the short Captain, he would've missed the quick flare of life in the man's deadened grey eyes.

In that split second Eren learned more about Levi that most would in an entire lifetime.

The older man was a walking contradiction. It was obvious. Underneath that icy exterior was a bloodthirsty, unhinged titan killing machine. With extreme anger issues.

Later the young man would come to learn just how deep that emotion ran, kept under tight lock and key. But for now, all he knew was he found someone who hated titans with an intensity that burned hotter than the sun.

In spite of being moments away from being summoned to the grand courtroom to answer for his actions in Trost, Eren felt strangely calm.

Somehow this man wouldn't allow the Military Police to execute him and he'd be free to fufill a lifelong dream.

Get ready boy. I gotta feelin' that shorty's gonna try somethin' crazy. I swear though...if he gets too carried away-

Quiet. Eren whispered internally. Whatever you're sensing...please take it. I'm dead if you come out in the middle of the courtroom.

His titan huffed.

Fine. But this is the ONLY time I let a human push us around.

Eren breathed out a sigh of relief, drawing funny looks from the MPs sent to escort him upstairs where Supreme Commander Darius Zackly held his fate-along with all of humanity's-in his hands.

Thank you.

Tch. Whatever. This better be worth it.

Shh. It's time.

Without another word, Eren felt his titan withdraw into the deepest recesses of his mind and body. Otherwise, he'd lose it and shift in front of everyone in the courtroom. Which would be a complete disaster.

He swallowed back a rush of bile, squared his shoulders and under the prodding of the guards made his way down the hallway to the trial that would determine if he lived or died.

He prayed things would swing in his favor.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be walking out of the courtroom alive.