Reader x Eren Chapter Twenty-One
The titan's foot came crashing down, and the tawny horse reared back into the air from the impact, its rider falling to the ground. The titan planted its heel into the ground to stop itself from the sudden momentum of its attack, and its eyes darted across the landscape below it until they found what it was looking for.
Armin Arlert shakily lifted himself onto his fours, shoulder screaming in agony from when he landed on it. He grunted, eyes wide as he felt a large presence behind him, a dark shadow looming over him.
He couldn't move. He was frozen, frozen in his last moments.
But then his hood was pulled back. Gigantic bony fingers pinched his hood carefully, peeling it away from his head. Aghast, Armin turned to look at the titan.
It was crouched right beside him, face stoic and devoid of any kind of emotion, hair cascading in a shining blonde waterfall.
Armin could only hear his heart pounding in his ears. The titan…was only looking at him! Why wasn't it trying to killhim? Would it eat him? Grab him and stuff him into its mouth, or shift to slam its fist onto his weak human body, crushing and killing him-
The titan let go of his hood, pulling back to stand to its full fourteen meters. It regarded him one last time before moving, sprinting away.
Armin swallowed, the lump in his throat getting bigger even after the titan was out of sight. He raised a tremulous hand to his face, stricken with fear, gratefulness, and shock all at once.
It only…looked at me?!
He wanted to cry.
—
You grumbled to yourself angrily. Ever since Annie had left for the day, you were stuck with her chores; as well as yours. So here you were, serving stew to your commanding officers in an embarrassing bright red apron. The chef said, "A pretty girl like you deserves to be noticed!" before throwing the apron at your face.
Honestly, you wished you could take it off and switch with Marlowe, who had a plain apron. He grumbled beside you, just as angry as he was to do this sort of chore as he poured stew into another bowl.
You could feel your eyebrow twitch as you poured the dark glop into another bowl of a commanding officer, his pals laughing behind him. This officer was fat, the one behind him tall and lanky, and the one behind him seemed disinterested in everything.
You sighed as the fat officer looked you up and down. "Who do we have here?" he asked, his pal behind him laughing. "I don't think I want the soup now, she seems better to eat."
And that was when you realized that there were, indeed, smaller, stupider, and more dangerous titans in the walls.
You ignored his crude remark and gripped the ladle as he stepped aside for his tall friend. His eyes traveled down your figure. "Eh, kid. Is serving stew everything you can do or is there more to the package? Know what I'm saying?"
He and Fatso laughed, and you could barely contain your anger as you poured stew into his bowl hastily, watching it spill over the edge onto his boots.
"Oi! Bitch! Watch what you're doing!" he cried, stepping back, face flushed with anger.
Marlowe beside you could only stare in awe as you held the officer's gaze as he leaned forward, breath hot on your face.
"Bitch, this is your warning-"
"And that was yours, you pig.You've got your head so far up your ass that its stretched enough for this ladle," you growled, shoving the utensil into his shocked face. "You dare say anything else to me and you'll find a cactus up your poop chute with my initials on it."
He was silent, and he pulled back. Fatso behind him snorted, and they both began laughing. You could only watch in confusion as they did so. Didn't your threatening words mean anything to them?
Fatso stepped back. "OOo, I like me some feisty girls, don't you, Leo?"
Leo, the tall one, grunted in reply, a shit eating grin on his face.
You narrowed your eyes as the third stepped up to you.
"Eh, bitch!" Fatso called. "Make sure to give him lots of stew! He's the new large and in charge officer around here."
The large and in charge one is you, you thought, as you glared at the man in front of you.
Your eyes widened in surprise. Wait-that was-
The man winked subtly from under his hat and gruffly said, "I don't got all day, girl."
Confusion still whirled within your mind. You poured stew into his bowl and watched as he walked away with the other two officers to a table.
Marlowe behind you visibly relaxed. You glanced at him.
"Be more careful of what you say!" he hissed. "There could be worse consequences-"
"Oh sure. What's more worse about being treated like you're a bag of priceless meat? Like they can look at ya and say things like that all they want?" You glared at him, having none of this anymore. "Oh wait, I know what's worse than that. Gang raped? Sold off into human trafficking? Used as a slave? Killed because I'm some "dirty whore roaming the streets"?"
That shut him up.
"Please," you scoffed. "I'm more afraid of them than the titans. And which do you think I have to face more?"
Marlowe looked away, dubious of what to say.
The rest of lunch was spent in silence between the two of you.
—
You hung the red apron on its hook, glad to get its hideous noticeable color out of the way. Sighing, you left the kitchens and went into the halls, waiting for a group of officers to walk by before turning the corner, where you knew that ahead was a door to the courtyard.
You yawned and stretched, suddenly cut off by a hand placing itself on your mouth, another gripping your wrist. With a muffled yell, you were pulled into the room beside you, the door shutting with a faint click.
You whirled around the darkness, fists raised, eyes wide. "Who's there!?" you hissed.
The hand returned on your mouth. Before you had anytime to do anything, a hushed voice spoke, "Shh! It's me!"
You nearly forgot his voice.
"Moblit?" you asked cautiously, removing his hand from your mouth. "What're you doing here?"
"Look, I was asked to come over here and check how things are going with you," he explained quickly.
"Was that you back there?" you asked.
He swallowed. "Yeah, it was. To think I had to hang with those disgusting…men." He shuddered. He eyed you in the darkness of the room. "Nothing's happened to you…right?"
"Holy crap, no," you answered. "If they tried anything, I'd kill them."
"Any information I should bring back to the Commander?" Moblit asked, wringing his hands nervously.
You shook your head. "Not at the moment…wait! Tell him to research more on "Pastor Nick". I could barely find anything here myself, save for a few files."
He nodded. "That it?"
"Yeah, I think. Wait, Moblit? How's…Eren?"
He blinked. "Eren's fine. He's on the expedition though."
Concern, anger, and frustration bubbled inside you. "I'm gonna kill him," you growled. "Can you give him a message for me? He's probably worrying himself sick over me."
He looked hesitant, but gave in. "Sure…"
You smiled sweetly. "Tell him to stop being a lil shit and get his head out of his ass."
Moblit was taken aback. "Er-uh, s-sure I'll pass that onto him." He cleared his thought. "You're very affectionate toward him aren't you?"
You nodded. "And tell him I'm okay. He doesn't know what I'm actually doing here, so I bet a bunch of stuff is running through his titan shifter head."
Moblit nodded. "Alright."
You cocked your head. "Shouldn't you be with Hanji?"
He shuddered, and you raised your eyebrow questionably. "What? Look, I love Hanji, she's great to be around. But sometimes I need a break from her wild antics and her constantly getting into trouble."
"Same here," you said, and the two of you sighed.
"I've been talking to you for too long," you said. "My friends will start wondering where I am."
"Same." He picked up his hat from the bookshelf behind him and placed it on his head. "You go out. I'll wait a while before leaving myself."
You nodded and gave him a small smile. "Bye, Moblit,"you said.
He returned the smile, though he seemed almost sad, "Goodbye, _."
You carefully opened the door a crack and peeked out, making sure no one was in the hallway before slipping out. You smoothened your uniform and sighed before walking off to your original destination.
—
Armin was still having his panic attack.
She only looked at me…, he thought. She only wanted to look at my face?!
The clip-clops of a sprinting horse behind him cause his thoughts to disappear, and he turned around, finding Reiner tugging on his reins to slow his horse to a stop. It neither and blew out hot air through its nostrils. In his other hand was the reins of another horse.
"Armin!"
"Reiner?" he said, glancing all over the broad teen.
"Can you stand? Where's your horse?" Reiner asked. "There's no way you can survive out here without one." He but his lip. "Never mind about yours; take mine."
Reiner threw him the reins of the horse beside him, which Armin caught rather ungracefully.
"Hurry up!" the broad teen urged.
Armin grunted, swinging himself onto the horse. They both gave one tug on the reins for the horses to ride forward.
"I saw the black flare alerting the deviant class," Reiner said over the noise. "So she's the one who made such a bloody mess?"
"She's not a deviant class!" Armin replied, gaze hardening. "That's a human clad in titan skin."
Reiner glanced over his shoulder to the smaller blond. "What?"
"Wait-I didn't fire the warning signal-" Armin cut him off, fumbling for his flare gun, when a loud pop sounded behind the two.
"Looks like Jean beat you to it," the larger blond said as they both turned to see said teen close behind them, the dark smoke dissolving into the air.
"Huh?" Armin turned to where more smoke caught his eye, just off in the horizon.
Jean had caught up to them. "It's signals from the position of the right flank! They took a huge blow and can't continue with the operation. Now we lost the lookouts on the right flank. A bunch of titans showed up! No one knows why!"
Armin's gaze followed the line of smoke before returning to Jean as the two toned blond spoke again.
"They're being held back somehow from the mass of titans. Chaos is spreading, and if push comes to shove, we're all, down to the last one, gonna get wiped out!"
That's when something clicked in Armin's head. "That's where she came from! I bet she gathered the titans and led them there."
Jean seemed at loss for words. "She…?"
Armin nodded in the direction of the female titan far ahead of them, keeping a steady pace.
"What the fuck is a titan doing there?" Jean questioned, truly baffled. "Does it belong to the deviant class?"
"No," Armin answered. "It's something else. She's a human, someone like Eren, with the same ability."
Jean turned to the blond, astonished. "What're you saying?!"
"Armin," Reiner spoke up," what makes you think this?"
Armin turned away from the two and focused his blue gaze on the running titan before him. "All titans do is devour. And as a result of that, we humans die, and not because 'killing' humans in itself is the titan's objective. But she crushed Sys and Nell simply because she was 'killing them to kill', not 'killing them to eat'. By doing that, that very nature sets her apart from the other titans.
I'm positive it was her who brought the normal types to the right flank, and she may have even led them to the city where the colossal titan and the armored titan destroyed the wall. Her objective is clear- attacking mankind. But I have a feeling she's looking for someone, and if my theory proves correct, then the person she's looking for is…Eren."
Silence took over the three as they took in Armin's words.
"Eren?" Reiner repeated, causing Armin to turn to him. "But isn't he positioned at the right flank with Lance Corporal Levi's squad, where she came from?"
"The right flank?" Jean cut in. "My diagram showed me he was stationed near the back of the left flank."
Armin's mind was buzzing with this information.
"From my diagram, Eren was on the front lines of the right flank…," he spoke, wheel already turning in his head. "But I doubt someone as important as him would be in such a vulnerable spot…no…"
He closed his eyes for a moment, thinking hard. An image of Erwin appeared before his mind. So what Erwin was planning back there…I don't want to think of the possibility…, he thought to himself, opening his eyes.
"If what I'm saying is correct, then Eren would be in the most safest location of the whole formation, which is…around the back of the center I think," Armin concluded.
"Armin! We don't have time for this," Jean cut in. "If the leading party commands retreat once they see the signal, the rest of the formation may be able to avoid the titans on the right flank. But if this female type is just as much as a threat as the colossal and armored titan, then there's no way to communicate this kind of complex information through simple smoke signals. If she is able to kill the leading party, then the formation will break apart and the rest of us will be killed."
Jean paused to let the information sink in.
"What're you getting at?" Reiner asked warily.
Jean let a dark smile curl his lips, gaze becoming grave. "What I mean is: we can still buy some time for the retreating signal to be given…Something like that at least. And at this distance, we can still draw her attention to us."
Armin looked away. The plan was extremely dangerous-they all knew that-but in order for the formation to go on safely, they had to risk their lives.
"She's…intelligent you know," Armin supplied. "To her, we're nothing more than mere flies. She can kill us just by swatting…"
Jean let out a dark laugh. "Seriously?" He ran a shaky hand through his hair. "That's downright terrifying…haha."
Reiner glanced at the two toned blond nervously. "What? Who are you? Are you really Jean? The Jean I know only thinks of himself, not of others…"
Said blond glanced away from Reiner. "That's…that's seriously rude." A pause. "I just…don't want a disappointing end with someone burning my bones not knowing who they belonged to."
A horrid silence overtook the three soldiers as they gazed out into the open plains.
"I…,"Jean muttered, thinking hard. Suddenly it hit him-he-
"I know what I must do!" he cried out. The other two stared at him, startled. "This was the job we chose. So gimme a hand, will ya?!"
Armin blinked, and his eyebrows knit together, eyes hardening. He grabbed his hood and pulled it over his face. "Pull your hood down!" he barked. "As low as they'll go! As long as she doesn't know who we are, she'll be careful not to kill us!"
"I see," the huge blond beside the two spoke, understanding. "She doesn't know we might be the one she's trying not to kill, which is Eren…" He pulled his hood down over his head. "Good for our peace of mind, huh? Let's hope she has bad eyesight."
The two glanced at Jean, who still hadn't lowered his hood. "Tch," he grunted, grabbing the fabric. "Armin, you know the way your always with Eren seemed kind of gross to me. But I also considered you a capable fella…"
Armin scrunched up his nose at his friend's choice of words. "Thanks…but calling it gross is sort of mean, don't you think?"
Reiner stayed silent, watching Jean from the corner of his eye. Even Jean…even that Jean changed…
"Alright guys," the two toned blond ordered. "From now on, you have to listen and do what I say."
The other two nodded, and the three fixated their eyes on their main opponent ahead. The female titan thundered ahead, still keeping an unusually steady and slow pace.
The three distanced away from each other as Jean pulled out his blades.
Armin watched as she seemed to slow down considerably. Her jog isn't as fast as it was before when she first appeared. Is she tired? If she picks up that insane pace again, we'll be too late.
He took a deep breath, trying to calming his ever pounding nerves.
We must act now. If we're going to do anything…we need to do it now!
Far in front of him, Jean took the lead. His grip on his sword tightened as he neared the female titan. Guys, he thought, do what we discussed. Draw her attention as long as you can…even for a little bit. Do your best to give the formation time to withdraw.
His gaze flicked down to the titan's moving legs. There was no skin, so he assumed that he didn't need to cut so deep.
Cutting the tendons in her leg would be more than enough,he thought. Don't be too reckless…she's intelligent. Don't take her too lightly…!
Armin could feel sweat forming on his forehead from the stress of the situation.
She's aware of her weak point on the nape of her neck. She's on an entirely different level from the other titans…His thoughts wandered off to Mikasa and Lance Corporal Levi, both who he assumed were more than enough to bring the female type down. At least to my common sense. But maybe if those two were in my shoes, they could-
His eyes widened and he gasped as the female titan suddenly shifted her head to gaze down at him.
Huh?!
Suddenly she swooped down, swinging her arm forward as she battered Armin's horse, causing him to fly off. He flew high into the air, and he gasped at the sudden pain of landing on the hard ground. Jean could only watch is horror as Armin rolled to a stop, the blond's gear breaking off of his harnesses, in the cool grass. Blood poured from a wound on his head from the impact.
Suddenly she was hovering over him, and his eyes followed hers as she reached down. Her hand was getting closer, and he couldn't move, he was frozen, he was so fucking terrified-
Jean was nearing the female titan. "Shit-ARMIN!" he screamed, jumping off from the horse and latching his hooks into the titan's lower back.
She shifted suddenly, raising her arm close to her face, eyes trained onto Jean.
Ugh! She's-her movements are more precise-that's not what you would normally see in a titan! he thought, desperate.
Of course!he thought. I should've guessed it; its the human thought and reason that controls this titan!
He gasped, letting to of his hook in time and latching onto her leg as her fist came flying toward him, and with a burst of gas, managed to narrowly escape its path.
Whoa! he thought as the air whipped over his head from her attack.
He let out another burst of gas, soaring through the gap between her arms and behind her. She made no movement to turn her head, but she did raise her hand and placed it over the nape of her neck, her eyes challenging.
She protected the nape of her neck?!he thought, hands now trembling as they held onto his blades.
"Jean!" Reiner screamed, urging his horse to run faster as he neared the female titan.
She closed her fist on her other hand as Jean circled around her. Her eyes never left his form as he struggled to anticipate her next move.
Shit! When she grabs my hook its all over, he realized. I dodged her last attack by pure luck! I can't kill her, I'm going to die-
She swung her fist around-
Fuck!
He could already see her fist right in front of him-
"JEAN!" Armin screamed, blood dripping down his face, eyes wide with anger as he faced the titan and Jean before him. "YOU HAVE TO AVENGE HIM!"
Her fist stopped, and Jean choked out a sob, soaring past her unharmed. His eyes shifted to Armin's form on the ground. What was he taking about?
Armin?
"THE SUICIDAL BASTARD WHO RUSHED TO HIS DEATH DIED ON THE RIGHT FLANK!" Armin screamed. "AVENGE HIM! SHE KILLED HIM!"
Jean circled around the titan, confused.
Has he finally lost his mind?! What is he talking about?!
The female titans eyes were no longer on Jean's, for they were now focused on the small blond on the ground. Armin held her gaze, furious yet terrified.
Jean circled around her once more.
She's frozen up! What?
He swung around low to the ground, using a nearby tree to stop his fall.
I have no idea why, he thought, but that just saved my life for now…
"SHE STEPPED ON MY BEST FRIEND AND CRUSHED HIM! I SAW HIM STUCK TO THE SOLES OF HER FEET!"Armin went on.
Is he talking about Eren?
Suddenly a flash of green caught his attention as Reiner latched into the female titan's neck, lifting himself into the air.
"Reiner!" Jean shouted in surprise.
Reiner pulled back her swords as he aimed himself at her neck, flying towards his target.
What's he doing? He's going for the neck! But that just might work now, when she's preoccupied on Armin…! It'll work!
His eyes shifted onto hers for just a moment, and he faltered.
Ice blue eyes, cold and hard as steel bored deep into his own, a deep emotion laying hidden in those dark irises.
Reiner let out a yelp as he was caught in her hand, and she tightened her grip on him.
Armin's eyes widened in shock. "Ah…" he choked out.
"H…," Jean breathed. "Hey!"
The female titan regarded Reiner in her grip, eyes piercing behind her blonde drapes. Reiner struggles and grunted, saliva forming at the corner of his mouth as he forced air into his lungs. Her thumb moved and she placed it onto his head, adding more force onto him as she squeezed until-
SPLORSH
Blood flew between the cracks and openings of her closed fist, spilling onto the grass below.
Jean could only hear his heart hammering against his chest. "Ah…Reiner," he shook his head, taking a step back and bracing a hand on the bark of the tree beside him. "You can't just…"
Armin's breathing became shaky as he watched blood run down her hand and wrist- Reiner's blood. Suddenly, more blood splashed out from her hand, and a broad figure appeared from between her fingers, drenched in blood as they soared away, latching onto the ground hastily. The figure grunted and grabbed Armin, running off.
"Eh?!" the small blond choked out, twisting in the persons grip to look at his blood stained face.
"Reiner!?"Jean cried, voice thick with emotion.
Reiner growled between grit teeth, "I think we bought them enough time! Now we really have to get out of here fast." He glanced over his shoulder. "If she's not looking for a snack, then she won't bother us at all!"
Armin followed Reiner's gaze to see the female titan rise to her full height, eyes trained on her hand. Confused, he watched as she turned to look off in a certain direction.
Jean gave one final glance before running off himself.
Reiner's actually something…! With Mikasa being the strongest, I almost forget the strengths of my other friends. And I almost forgot that Reiner is also at the top of the class!
Reiner let a shit eating grin curl his lips. "Will you look at that! She's too wussy and decided to run away!"
Armin's eyes widened as he realized where she was going.
How…?
Why…?
That direction is by the center back!
That's where Eren is!
Hey look I'm not dead. So this chapter is decent sized for ya guys. I hope. Sorry I'm not able to answer any of your reviews, I'm mostly on mobile.
To keep track of this series, please go see my dA Allstuffcombustable, for I keep updates and crap on the story there. I explain why I also don't update as much, and you can check how much of a chapter is done in the index.
Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Again-gomen gomen *bows*
I don't own snk nor its characters
You belong to eren