Feels ahead! Thank you guys for reviewing - I promise any questions you may have will be answered within the story - I don't want to reveal too much to spoil the surprises later. ;)
Warnings: RIREN RIREN RIREN! Oh and did I mention the Riren pairing? There also may be moments of depression and loneliness in case those may be triggers. Eventual romance. Uhhh... I dunno - stupidity? Oh! Probable language later on.
Bold and Italics is Eren's journal which is written in first person. Italics are thoughts.
Attack on Titan / Shingeki no Kyojin belongs to Hajime Isayama - not I.
As soon as he and Moblit walked through the front doors of the museum, they were greeted by several staff members.
Eren smiled warmly to them in return. Gradually they worked their way back to the offices where Historia would be awaiting them. He strode up to her door and knocked quietly.
The door was opened a crack to reveal Ymir looking out at them.
"I'm back," Eren said to her with a small grin.
She rolled her eyes and opened the door further thus granting them entrance into the office.
Historia peered up from her desk and smiled brightly, "Eren! You've returned!"
He bowed his head respectfully, "Yes M'lady, with the documents - as promised."
Moblit stepped forward then with a briefcase. He popped it open to reveal three pieces of paper all neatly placed in plastic sleeves.
With the utmost care, the blonde took them out and laid them out on her desk. She slid on a pair of reading glasses and scrutinized the writing. "Hmm... I may have you translate some of this for me again, Eren," she murmured.
"You know I will M'lady," Eren said with a smile, "I won't even charge you this time."
Historia laughed a bit. "I appreciate that," she said sincerely. "Alright onto our next matter of business," the blonde continued in an official tone. Her gaze lit with excitement, "Ymir and myself have decided it's high time to get this museum a bit more publicity so we are going to host a festival of sorts here in celebration of over 2000 years of freedom from the titans."
A look of surprise took the brunette's, "A festival? Here?"
She nodded, "Yes. We hope to debut some long awaited historical artifacts - the ones that Grisha has been trying to get for us for so long. Well he finally got ahold of them and should be getting them here in time for them to be fully processed and cleaned for the festival." Historia shuffled some papers absentmindedly, "But this festival should also serve as a reenactment of sorts which is why I wanted your input, Eren. I want this to be like one of the festivals from back then."
That was surprising. "Alright, but I'm afraid I don't have much to offer as there weren't many festivals back then... I can honestly only think of three I ever went to but I'll tell you what I can."
She smiled to him, "I had also half thought for you to do some kind of presentation of one of the historical items, but only if you want to."
"But they aren't mine to present," Eren said quietly, "they're Grisha's."
"Ah but I haven't even sent you to get it yet," Historia said with a mysterious air.
He tilted his head in curiosity.
"It's closer than the last one was, this one lays in wait for you in France - specifically Paris," she continued, "I hope you're up for it."
Eren laughed, "Of course."
I hadn't been to Paris since the Eiffel Tower had been built, which was a few decades ago. The city was quite a sight to behold back then, especially since I was there during the Exposition Universelle of 1889. The Eiffel Tower was new, recently finished in construction. That alone had many people flocking to see the city.
It was amazing to see so many people gathered for such a large event. Especially one that lasted so long. I was only there to see a week of the Expo but what a wonderful thing it was to see. I was honestly quite glad to be returning after so long away.
One day I would like to go alongside Levi. It's on my ever growing list of things to do with him, either in this life or his next.
"Welcome to Paris, sir," Moblit chimed with a small grin on his face.
He rolled his eyes with a matching grin, "Why thank you Moblit, it's nice to be back here."
The other raised a brow, "You've been here before, sir?"
"It's been a few decades, but yes," Eren replied, "I can already see several changes from then." An odd sense of longing took him as he peered around at the cityscape. He wished for his lover's presence.
As if having sensed something was amiss, Moblit placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, "One day soon and I am sure you will find whoever it is you seek, sir. Have faith in that."
His reply came by way of a grateful smile to his guard. "Let's go, Mobby," he called, "onwards to the Louvre!"
After getting bumped into several times by absent minded tourists, Eren finally decided to drag his guard through back alleys that the visitors didn't know of. It was only travelled by Parisians who had also tired of the street traffic. They quickly reached the Louvre and after flashing their respective badges, were led to the behind the scenes of the museum.
"Bienvenue gentlemen, we've been expecting you," a voice called warmly.
Eren knew who it was before he even looked. His suspicions were confirmed when he did finally peer forward. He swallowed nervously but put up his front. "Miss Ral, I presume," he said as he extended a hand forward.
She smiled to him, "You are correct, but please call me Petra." She gave his hand a firm shake, then turned her attention to his guard, "Same for you, Monsieur Berner."
Moblit offered a gracious smile, "As you wish, ma'am."
"Now, if you'll follow me, I'll take you to the artifacts."
It wasn't until they were being led through the maze of halls that Eren realized just how maze-like the museum was. He noted that the expression on Moblit's face showed a similar realization. He gave short chuckle at the amount of surprise on his guard's face.
Petra stopped at a particular door that read: Documents Historiques.
The brunette raised a brow as they entered, "I thought you only carried art in this museum..."
"That's true for the most part," she replied, "but we also have some documents that relate to some of the paintings and sculptures we have. Though they are not usually displayed."
Well that made more sense. They followed her through the mess of tables and desks to a particular one tucked in the farthest corner from where they had entered.
Petra smiled kindly to them. She made a gesture to the collection of papers on the tabletop, "These are what you have come to collect."
Eren let out a gasp and stumbled slightly, immediately alerting Moblit.
"Sir," he called anxiously, putting a steadying hand on his charge's shoulder.
"T-These are..." He couldn't even get the words out. His throat closed off as a lump formed. He delicately touched one of the letters, tears welling up in his eyes. "I can't believe t-these are here.." They had actually survived time.
The woman eyed him curiously as he attempted to control the wave of emotions that had hit him so suddenly. She cleared her throat a bit and spoke once more, "These are the letters that Madame Reiss wished to obtain. All of them are accounted for. Though we're still not entirely sure who they were written between as it is obviously two people. We're also not entirely sure what they say as the language is old and mostly forgotten, though Madame Reiss informs me that you one of the best to speak, read and write in the old language."
He didn't need her to know who they were written between - he knew. There were a set of 28 letters scattered about the table - love letters that he and Levi had written back and forth. Eren smiled weakly, "Yes, I can understand the old language in all forms. I.. studied it for many years." He shuffled shyly, "Pardon my little episode there."
"It's perfectly fine, Monsieur Jaeger, I see dozens of people break into tears over seeing the La Joconde on a daily basis."
Moblit stared at her in confusion.
Petra gave him a smile of understanding, "The Mona Lisa."
He blushed but nodded his thanks to her.
"When will they be ready for transport," Eren asked politely.
A thoughtful look came onto her face, "I would say in two days time, you arrived a bit sooner than anticipated. But our preparations should be complete by then."
His blonde guard looked to him suspiciously, "And what exactly do you have in mind to do during which time?"
Eren merely tossed him a smirk and planted a kiss on Petra's hand, "Merci beaucoup, mademoiselle." He then proceeded to drag Moblit from the room as their guide stood in shock.
Once they were out of the room, Moblit looked to him in bewilderment, "What was that?"
"A distraction to escape," he replied quietly, as though ashamed. "I couldn't handle being around her much longer... It was getting hard to be in her presence."
That immediately shut up the other and suddenly he seemed to understand, "Close comrade, then?"
"Yes. She met a sudden and tragic end much too soon in her life... I feel guilty about it."
Moblit started a bit at that, "Why?"
His gut twisted at the question, "A distraction to escape..."
Realization appeared on the younger's face, "So she was part of that Special Operations Squad you told me about?"
He merely nodded. The guilt still ate at him. If only I had transformed when Levi was still near, we could've caught Annie then.
There came a comforting pat on his shoulder in response. "I'm sorry it brought up bad memories to see her again, I just wish all of your reconnections with lost comrades could be cheerful; not shadowed by guilt and sadness like most of them have been."
"It can only be expected, Moblit," he muttered, "it's unfair of me to wish for them to remember such dark times."
"Says the one that lived 2000 years in loneliness. The only thing unfair about it all is their lack of memory... Mine as well."
Eren gave a weary smile, "You're so young."
Moblit huffed indignantly, "Well excuse me for having an expected lifespan of only 100 years."
He shook his head at the man's antics.
It was a quick walk to exit the museum once they had gotten out of the understory maze. The older of the two heaved a deep inhale of the city air.
"So what are your plans for the next few days, sir?"
He gave a half-hearted shrug, "Wander the city, maybe? Seek sanctuary in Notre Dame? Who knows. When in Paris, do as the Parisians do."
The blonde crossed his arms, "Usually you have something, I dunno, more dramatic planned."
His green eyes lit up with amusement, "Oh? Catching onto that, eh?" He raised his hands in surrender, "Well, nothing up my sleeves this time, just good old fashion exploring this time. I don't even know this city that well."
"Could've fooled me, what with zipping through those back alleys earlier," Moblit grumbled. "Okay, say I believe you, what then?"
Eren smiled mischievously, "Then follow me!"
He whipped around, only to whack right into a passerby. The two tumbled to the ground with audible thumps. Eren's guard was quick to haul him back up to his feet.
"Sorry," the stranger exclaimed, "errr I mean… uhh excuse moi, pardon.. I-"
"H-Hanji?"
The brunette peered up incredulously and then broke out into a large smile, "EREN!"
Yay another update (finally) sorry, got preoccupied. I have actually had this written for awhile ._. Sorry guys.. Hope you enjoyed - R&R to tell me your thoughts!
Also I know cannon Petra isn't French but it works out this way, trust me! See ya next time.
~Ghosties