"Seriously, You grew up and all but your baby face still remains"
"WAH-"
Eren backed up on a wall and just only realized he is lying on a bed.His brain tried to catch up on what was happening. Obviously, you would be surprised when you find yourself in a dimly lit room(?) with a strange woman who was pinching your cheeks and whose face was only centimeters apart from his own.
"Who are you?!" Eren shouted at the woman.He angrily glared at the dark figure in front of him while squinting his eyes to see it's face.He knows it's a woman based from the slightly lower pitch of a female voice. He can't see the woman much from the darkness of his surroundings but when the woman backed away from him and stood up straight, Her silver shoulder-length hair came into view from the dim light of the lantern. He took notice that she is wearing a military uniform and finally the most noticable is her crimson colored eyes.
"What? Only 5 years and ya forgot about me? I'll kick you."She said and that was the only time that Eren find himself perplexed at the sight of the woman in front of him. Not just any woman but his childhood friend.A childhood friend that was missing all this time.
"..Ri..Rie?" Eren continued to stared with his mouth hanging open.He could not find any words to say.His friend that was missing all this time is right in front of him.
"Oh, So ya do remember.Good, if you hadn't, I was sure I'm going to punch you considering your current situation right now" Rie smirked with matching snicker which made Eren confused of her words.He followed her line of sight and saw his wrists locked by what seems to be shackles that are connected to the bed he is currently lying on.
"What..w-where am I?" He stared at the shackles and scanned his surroundings, he found himself what he thought was a room at first but was actually a cell. He felt himself panick. He was very confused on how did he get here and why is he locked up.
'Why am I here?'
"This is the underground cell or whatever. You are currently being held here under the responsibility of the military police." Rie noticed the confused and panick expression Eren has and sighed to herself and explained,putting one hand on her hip.
As if it hit him suddenly,Eren finally remembered what happened. He remembered closing the breach using the boulder with his titan form.He remembered collapsing and what he saw in his last conscious moments was the wings of freedom...
"Ah! That's right! Mikasa and Armin?! Where are they?!" Eren panicked and looked straight to Rie for answers who was annoyed at his loud voice.
"Calm down. They're being questioned.Most likely about you.."Rie suddenly remembered her conversation with the two.
"Ah, Speaking of them. I met with them already...You were unconscious at that time.They told me that you made them believe that I'm still alive. You..believed that I won't let myself die..You believed in me.."She approached Eren and neared her face to his which an action Eren weirdly gotten used to.
"...so with that..Thank you" Once she said that,Eren had a face that showed fear. His mouth is hanging open again.The expression he held is as if he saw a Titan puking shit
"No..way.. Rie..Did you just thanked me?? You??"
"Oi,are you insulting me?" Rie glared at Eren.
"It w-wasn't!" She hopped on his bed and positioned herself over him,straddling his legs under the blanket.
"Wha-?!"
"I'll poke your eyes.seriously.I'll stick my two fingers deep inside your eyesockets. Do that again and I'll really do it" She grabbed on his shirt and readied her other arm and her two fingers. She stared threateningly at him
"Hey! Stop! What the hell?!" Eren struggled,he grabbed Rie's hand that was grabbing his shirt and tried to remove it from his clothing. That was what he planned to do but he almost forgot that Rie's strength was extraordinary before and it seems like it doubled as the years went by.
"It was supposed to be a compliment,like how you changed over the years!..but, I guess you did not change much" Eren muttered but ,unfortunately, he forgot Rie was on him and heard him perfectly.
"You really want your eyes to go, huh?" Rie tried nearing her fingers on his eyes but Eren grabbed her wrist and tried to stop her from making him go blind but It was rather hard because..one, Rie's strength is really hard to restrain and two, his own wrists is locked in shackles which made it hard to move.
The two struggled,sometimes Rie overpowered him and stabbed her fingers straight but Eren would move his head away. It continued like that for a few seconds.
"What the fuck are you doing?" A deep toned voice called out to the two and was immediately silenced.Both of them stared at the source of the voice,only to reveal Levi with Erwin on his side.
"Oh.You two are here." As if there is nothing wrong with their "activities", she calmly hopped out of Eren's bed and straightened her uniform.She exited his cell making her way to the commander and the guards locked the cell door.
"Mind telling me how you got here first before us?" Erwin asked the small girl,compared to his height, who stood beside him.
"Well, I heard that you asked permission to see Eren and upon hearing it was accepted, I immediately rushed here assuming you know why?" Erwin nodded
"The guards was nice enough to let me in,right?"She turned her head to the guards which stayed silent.The other one stood silently but the nervousness is evident in his face and the other one hesitantly nodded.Rie returned her attention to Erwin and smiled innocently
"Very well, I suppose you have no business left here?" Erwin said to her.The whole time, Eren was silently watching.
Rie know those two enough for her to speak carefree? and they know her??
Eren doesn't know what to think of this situation since he got his head full of what is about to happen next.The commander and the captain of the Survey Corps. being here in front of him, means it's something important.
"Oh come on. I,at least, want to see how this goes" Rie smiled at him.The two stared at each other for a while when Erwin broke it off by proceeding to sit on the chair in front of Eren's cell.Rie went to his right side with a face that expresses victory before she was stopped by a hand on her shoulder.
She glared at the owner of said hand which was Levi.
"I asked what the hell were you doing earlier?" Levi looked darkly at Rie or rather it was his normal face.She swatted away his hand on his shoulder and crossed her arms at him.
"We were talking and acting like how we always do ever since. I don't see anything wrong with that..and please do avoid touching me. I hate skin contact with humans." She glared at him but it was rather different than her usual glare.Levi could'nt pinpoint what it is and he almost blanked out on her.
"Says the girl who got on top of a brat"Levi said, Erwin was staring at them,maybe hoping they would stop any moment now and if they didn't, he would force them to.
"I don't see anything that is improper for you...unless you count a mere "quarrel" between childhood friends as improper. For added information, I choose who I only want physical contact from and those people are my childhood friends" She finished and went to Erwin's right side while Levi leaned on the wall facing the cell.
"I apologize for what you have witnessed, although..It seems you are used to it..to her personality"Erwin started speaking to Eren.He glanced a look at the white-haired girl beside him and Eren hesitantly nodded albeit a small one.
"Huh? What does that supposed to mean?" Rie went up to Erwin's face with annoyance in her expression.Erwin merely stared at her unwavered by her threatening face.
"You are known to have such a troubling personality.Someone merely following her wishes whenever she wanted" Eren was actually surprised.The commander knows her enough to know her personality.
"...Well, I can't say I don't agree..but you don't have to say it like it's a bad thing, It's a great thing!" Rie straightened her back and smirked at him.Great for Rie, not so much for others.
"Continuing on,I can assume that Rie filled you in on where you are and why are you here?"Erwin returned his attention to Eren.Eren nodded nervously.It was kind of nerve-wracking to speak to one of the leaders of the Survey Corps.
"I see.I'll be straight to the point then."Erwin showed Eren a key. It was his basement key.The one Dr. Jaeger left to him.
"That key!"Eren exclaimed, he looked at his chest confirming the missing key that hunged around his neck.
"Back in your parents' house..In Shiganshina..In Dr.Jaeger's basement...lies the truth of the Titans..Am I mistaken?"
"N-no sir...probably not..At least, according to my father" Eren replied.
"You lose your memory and your daddy goes missing..Now, that's convenient" Levi interrupted
"Levi, I told you. There is no reason for him to lie to us"Erwin noticed Levi's doubt.Rie doesn't blame him though.She was the same way to them.
"There is a lot to ask but I feel we should ask first what is it that you want to do?"Erwin asked Eren
"What I want to do?" He repeated
"In order to get to your house, we need to reclaim Wall Maria.The entrance was blocked off by a huge boulder, we would need that power of yours to enter it...Your will is the "key"...The key that can allow humanity to escape this hopeless situation."
"I..."
For a few moments, Eren was silent.The three notice how he hung his head low. He had an unnerving vibe around him, Rie noticing it the most.
"Speak, you piece of shit"Levi barked at him getting impatient.
Then Eren faced them with a wicked smile.No, more like a smile that expresses a mixture of rage,bloodthirst and hatred.
"To kill all Titans,Sir"He breathed out in a tone that sends chills.It was clear in his tone that that is exactly what he wants to do.
"Oh?" Levi caught Rie's attention.His tone was a little bit unusual of him,she thinks.She observed as he walked to the bars of Eren's cell and held them,staring at Eren.
"Erwin,tell the higher-ups that I'm vouching for him.Not that I trust him, I want to be around to kill him if he ever went rogue."
Then that's when the two men notice Rie's glare.Even if Levi isn't facing her, He can feel the heavy dark vibe he's getting from her. The whole room seemed to stay silent for a few seconds .Her heavy aura was hard to miss and was threatening after all.All of them seemed to notice it except for Eren whose head was filled with thoughts of what Levi said to him.
"I doubt that they'll disagree since I'm the only one fit for the job.Consider yourself part of the Scouting Legion"Levi finished and Eren can only gawked at his words.Levi freed the bars from his hands and returned to his original position,glancing a subtle look at the now neutral-faced Rie.
"Stay put here for a while.We'll see if we can talk some sense into them.Don't worry, someone will get you"Erwin stood up and was ready to leave until he looked at Rie.
"I'll follow"Rie said waving them away.
"You can't. We only recieved permission to talk to Eren Jaeger at this point in time.You are not allowed to enter inside after this"Erwin explained to her.Rie looked annoyed but still she understand and obeyed.
"Fine.This will be quick"She said,walking to Eren's cell.She looked at the guards and one of them hurriedly opened the cell door letting her inside.She walked up to Eren and bended down to his height and neared her own face to him.
"What is it?" Eren asked getting a nostalgic feeling from the way she always used to do this.
Rie squinted her eyes at him and looked at him as if solving a puzzle.She observed his face from different angles until she cocked her head to the side in wonder.
"Say, Eren...What happened..?...Your eyes...they changed"Rie spoke to him in a soft manner which surprised Eren.He looked at her red eyes and had another nostalgic feeling but what surprised him was he saw concern in her eyes.
"..A lot happened..When Wall Maria fell.." He looked away from her.He bit his lower lip to try to ease his sadness...his anger. Rie nodded.She straightened her back and was about to leave.
"Rie..How about you?"Rie looked back to him and was confused at his words.
"Your eyes..It looks like It did not change..no..more like it's unusual.Rie..we know Big sis Angelica died...Her corpse was retrieved and buried. Rie-"
"Eren.I...Unlike you who seek vengance, I only want to do what she told me to do,To seek happiness of my own.." She looked down at Eren
"It's fine if I don't seek revenge, She only wants me to be happy after all. She would be dissappointed in me if the life she saved was not happy like she wanted it to be" She smiled at him. A rare smile that was shown only to Eren. With that, Eren can see her sadness,her mental strength and determination.
"Let's go.I'm done" Eren hears her voice and three pairs of footsteps walking away.He hears the cell door closing and a lock was put.
Eren thought about Rie's words.She, Mikasa and him both lost their family in the fall of Wall Maria.Rie continued living her life to be free and happy as she could for her sister's wishes...while I..
No,I am choosing my own happiness and freedom.The Titans are the root cause of it all.That is why we're not free.That is why we suffer.That is why I resolved in killing all Titans..
•••
It has been a while since Eren's last conversation with the three.Actually, he doesn't even know what day or what time it is.All he's been doing is asking for water and going to the restroom.
"Um, May I use the toilet?"Eren asked the guards that was stationed in front of his cell.
"You just went a while ago"The guard replied.
"...May I have some water?"Eren asked once again.
"Oi"The other guard called to him.
"Know your place..monster"
Eren, having heard that, stayed silent.He lowered his head down and thought of his words.
Monster.I can't deny that but...
are they really that afraid that they feel the need to restrict me in just about everything?
Well,It's expected.I, myself, doesn't even understand any of this.
Maybe I should be grateful they didn't kill me
Come to think of it,they weren't scared of me
and Rie, It might have been just me but When she learned about it, it looked like it lit a spark in her and suddenly changed her treatment of me...though just a little. She looks...interested? A curiosity kind of interest...
Eren's thoughts broke when she heard the door to this place open and creak as it closesIt was all silent like he is the only person in the place.
CLANK*
"Hello there"Eren would be lying if he said that he almost died from shock because of this woman.The brunette was wearing the standard military uniform.She wears round glasses at it shone in the most creepy way possible.
"I'm here to pick you up"She said...
Eren was let out of the cell but was still handcuffed and the brunette earlier and a tall blonde man with a big build led the way.
"I'm Hanji Zoe, A squad leader of the Survey Corps. and He is.."The brunette introduced herself but the tall man simply leaned towards Eren and sniffed him.
"W-what"Eren tried backing away
"That's Mike.He's also a squad leader.He tends to do this to almost everyone he meets...and smirking to himself" As if on cue, Mike smirked to himself just as she said.
"Oh! We're already here! It's probably better if you know nothing beforehand.Just tell them what's in your mind.We can only have faith in you now"Hanji pushed her in and closed the doors.
Eren looked around and found a court.The court was filled with military soldiers from the Military Police and Survey Corps and others are civilians.
"Move it!"A soldier pushed Eren and he was forced to move.As he walked to the center, all eyes land on him as if he was a walking bomb...well to them,He is.
"Kneel there"Eren followed his orders and kneeled.Then a post was put in between his body and his handcuffed hands.Eren looked to his left and sees the commander of the military police, Nile Dok and also soldiers of the same branch.To his right, Commander Erwin and Captain Levi stood along with other Survey Corps soldiers.
He noticed Rie sitting and was staring off to nowhere,clearly bored out of her mind.Then her red eyes land on his and she showed him a face that (he thought) that was almost mocking and her lips curled a tiniest bit,suppressing her obvious smirk.
Rie waved a hand and smiled at him.Eren,knowing her, knew it was sarcasm.She is having fun.
'How can she have fun at a situation like this?...oh right.It's Rie.'
Eren looked some more around and found Mikasa and Armin behind him.Eren finally put his attention to a man that had just arrived and sat on his desk.
'...That's..General Zackley,right?..The head of all three branches'
"Let us begin, shall we?..You're Eren Jaeger,correct? A soldier who sworn his life to the cause, is that right?"
"Yes sir"
and the trial has begun...
•••
"Sorry about that"Erwin apologized to Eren who was sitting on the couch,tending his wounds.The Trial has ended and the result was in their favor.
"You really did speak up your mind earlier that gave us the perfect chance to play the card up we had prepared.The pain you're experiencing is part of that. You have my respect" He reached out a hand to shake to Eren.
"Yes sir.Nice to meet you too" Eren shakily shook his hand.
Then he was startled by Levi sitting next to him.He panicked for a moment.Levi looked at him.
"Say, Eren. Do you hate me?" He asked Eren.
"N-not at all. I understand the reason why you had to do it" Eren visibly calmed down and looked at his feet.
"Good"
"But still! There are certain limits!" Hanji said to him.
"You knocked out his tooth! Eren, Open your mouth"
Eren complied and opened his mouth just enough for Hanji to see inside.
"Eh?...The tooth...already grew back..."
BLAM*
"Hey, Eren! Ya need to tell me where Mikasa's staying so let's go-" Rie came in suddenly and grabbed Eren's hand and pulled him when a tight grip on their connected hands stopped them.
"Where the hell do you think you're going? I am in charge of the brat-"Levi was holding them-or Rie back.
"Fuck that. I was in charge of him way before you and can control him better" Rie stuck out her tongue at him and forcefully pulled Eren, leaving them.
"Well, that's a surprise. I never seen Rie this "active" before"Hanji commented after they left.
"Maybe she is that happy to see her friends once again"
"Aren't you going to go after them? Rie is capable of handling him but I doubt others will think the same" Hanji looked at Levi who grunted in annoyance in response.
"..and neither are the higher-ups...especially when those two are seen together" Hanji and Levi looked a little bit confused at his words but paid it no mind.Levi sighed and followed after the duo whispering something like beating them up once he finds them.
So uhm, I guess I owe you guys an apology.
I didn't update last month either and I'm sorry for that. I know maybe some of you is tired of hearing this but I just wanted to let you know that it's been hard. But I don't want nor expect you to have pity on me since it feels like i'm seeking attention.just wanted to give you guys an explanation.
Well, in my country,Summer vacation is here.
So maybe I'll try my best to upload more chapters.
So, thanks to those who still kept reading this story even though I'm a total beginner in writing one.
Thank you for those who spent time to give reviews.I appreciate it very much.Very.
So, Maybe ,I'll see you guys next month
RR