Part 79
The New World
"Eren has changed. That's what everyone is saying. Maybe I was just wrong from the start. Maybe he's just always been this way. But if that's the case, I wonder who the real Eren even is anymore."
"I can't believe that towns really do exist outside the walls!" Sasha bellowed, leaning over the railing side of the steam ship that carried them across the open sea, to enter into Marley, disguised as one of the many immigrants that were aboard the ship too. Dressed fashionably, in suits and modern dresses, all wearing hats to at least hide their eyes.
Jean hissed, tugging on Sasha's arm. "Don't say stuff like that in front of people here!"
"Easy, Jean." Connie smirked. "We all get it."
The ship slowed. Soon anchoring at the Port, people beginning to board off, children laughing and playing their chase games. "Our survey begins!" Hange hummed, pulling down on her suit jacket, wearing a broad smile as the party stepped foot onto foreign land. A mechanic creation rippled past them, shocking the many in confusion over the new type of transportation they were seeing.
"Is that a new breed of Horse?" Sasha screeched. "Or a Cow?"
Hange laughed. "I was informed about these. It's a car. Hey, car!" She would then wave ecstatically.
A nudge them came Fury's way, from Isaah, who clung to her. "People are looking at us…"
Fury raised her gaze, attaining the appearance of a navy blue jacket, attended by a longing skirt of the matching material, brown boots supporting her feet. Her eyes witnessed the everyday residents scoffing at the excitement from the others. "Just pretend we don't know them, alright?"
"They'll probably buy a damn carrot for that hump of iron…" Levi muttered, watching on as they ran towards a produce stand among the street market. "... They're buying a carrot, aren't they?"
"Eren…" The voice of Mikasa was sudden, pulling Eren out of his thoughts from his eyes witnessing what a modern day life could look like for them all too. "We don't know what to find here yet. Just stay close to me."
The boy nodded. "So this is the other side of the sea…" Eren would mumble, lifting a single finger to tend to an itch behind his ear.
"I'd like one too!" Sasha was heard, most of them hovering around another market merchant, who chuckled softly as he offered them the sweetness of frozen cream. "Ah! Cold! But so good!"
"That's Ice Cream for you!" The merchant grinned, placing another scoop atop a corn cone and offered it to Jean.
As Fury and Levi watched on at the childish antics, a sudden spook came from behind them both as a towering man in face paint, bearing balloons, hovered over them, wearing a large red sponge around his nose. "Hey, kids! You can't be saying no to this candy too, am I right?" Hange walked over to them both, who were left far from amused over the assumption, Isaah himself left giggling. "Come on, don't be shy! I'm a friendly clown! A clown who thinks this cute little gang could do with a sugar rush!"
A glare was created from Levi, causing both Hange and Isaah themselves to step in front of him. And yet, it only allowed a timid smile to form from Fury. She peered over Eren's way, who stood away from them all, deciding to speak with him herself. "Eren. Have some of this ice cream." The boy turned his gaze away. "Already knew about it, hm?"
"My dad's memories." Eren spoke. "Apparently Eldians from the internment zone were rarely allowed the treat of it. Despite the world being so vast."
"Oi!" A struggle came from Levi's way, Fury swiftly moving her attention towards him as he dragged a child out from within the closing crowd. "That isn't yours to take, brat."
"A pickpocket?" A civilian scoffed.
"Just another one of those immigrants, I'm betting." Another judged.
"Someone should break his hand, teach him a lesson!"
"Yeah, I bet the number of them will lower the more they get punished!"
"The wallet is fine." Levi spoke out to the opinionated crowd.
"That isn't for you to decide, mister. Kids need to be set an example that things like that aren't accepted here."
"I bet he's just another Subject of Ymir!" The crowd roared, pointing fingers the child's way.
Swiftly, Levi picked the boy up, carrying him under his arm as the surrounding crowd hurled questions his way. "Who said he was even a pickpocket? All I said was the wallet was fine. 'Cause it belongs to his sister, over there." Everyone's judging glares all then landed on Fury, who now had Levi walking towards her with the boy. She sighed in aggravation. Considering no attention was supposed to be brought their way.
"We're just a complicated family!" Hange waved. "Right, sis'?"
Taking her time to respond, Fury groaned. "Yeah… he just has a nag for finding trouble."
Striding away from the aggravated mob, the boy then pulled himself away from Levi's carry. A hurl of laughter came from him, running as he waved the wallet of money above him in an act of accomplishment.
A smile simply came from the majority of them. As Fury and Levi themselves knew the hardship of poverty from experience. They knew there was no need to have the money returned to them, as it was given in the first place.
"Where's Mikasa and Eren?" Armin then asked, unknowing that the both of them already took detours to follow the young boy.
They both stood watch, the boy returning to his coughing father, heartily showing him the money he has taken. Eren noticed the father's stern gaze to his son, and yet only watched more as the father then smiled, seemingly accepting the pick-pocketing.
"Has something else happened to them?" Mikasa asked, stood by Eren.
He mutely followed with a reply. "Not yet…" Though Mikasa showed concern, she continued allowing her eyes to look around the place in which they had followed the boy to. Pitched tents, most with holes in them. Used fires having their flints and embers recycled in order to keep them lit. "This is where those who have lost their homes from the war are living…"
"Just like ours was, their freedom was also taken." Eren acknowledged. He sighed. Only shifting himself slightly to address Mikasa more directly as they watched the boy laugh with his family. "Why do you concern yourself so much with me? Is it really only because I saved you as a child? Or do you actually see me as your family?" A fluster atop her cheeks came over Mikasa, who stuttered and struggled in order to bring up the courage to answer honestly. And yet Eren's eyes only held sorrow within them. "What am I to you?"
The girl took a hold of Eren's hands, lifting them to chest height, as she was able to find herself with confidence. "You are my family."
A moment was held between the two of them. The coughing and interruption then coming from an elderly member of this camp, bearing a tray with alcoholic beverages atop it. The call of the others coming from a distance away, bearing lanterns as the sun was setting. "Just in time." Eren smiled, allowing the welcoming man to bring them into his tent. And yet, the answer itself from Mikasa had left him with a sorrowing view upon his features.
Eren held Mikasa's hand as they then ventured into the tent. Jean, Connie, Sasha and even Isaah rushed in after them, only to be greeted by a unique way of an evening meal. Sitting atop cushions upon the floor. Bowls of rice and other spicy concoctions in the middle, placed upon a patterned rug. Sasha wasted no time. Barging past Connie, almost knocking him over, as she took a place next to Mikasa, all then sitting crossed legged. Watching as Eren made the first move, allowing some of the alcoholic delicacy down his throat, smiling as he simply finished the glass of it. It encouraged the rest of them to dive in.
Connie having Jean chug on a larger quantity of it. Sasha force-feeding Isaah some of the overpowering spice, his eyes watering as he flapped his hands, begging her to stop feeding him.
Eren, Mikasa and Armin all toasting each other, taking in more of the drink as laughter filled the area for the night. The tent opening was then moved. Both stood Levi and Fury, looking down at all of them now passed out from the drunkenness, noticing the way in which Eren huddled close to Mikasa and Armin. Jean and Connie kicking each other in their sleep. Sasha's sleeping drool landing on Isaah, who was near her.
"Damn brats…" Levi huffed, even noticing the old man asleep in his chair within the tent. And yet his brow raised as he heard Fury offer a slight chuckle at the obvious similarity.
"Just let them have this night, will you?" She whispered, her eyes giving a quick check to Isaah himself. "None of us might not get to feel this free of worry for a long time."
Levi listened. His silent agreeing showing from the lowering of his lantern. If anything, he knew Hange would have them regretting it in the morning. "Come on. They're too old to be babysat anyway. Let's take a slow walk back to the other overgrown brat and call it a night ourselves."
"You can do that." Fury sighed, just managing to pull her hues away from Isaah, leaving the tent to be among the refreshing chill of the night's air. The smell of the seawater never too far away. "I think I might stay out for a bit. These people are supposed to be our enemies, and yet all I've seen today is people just trying to live their lives. But being drip fed lies and fear to keep them in line. Isn't that something Kenny said to us? That we're all slaves to something… Or someone."
Levi could only nod, his gaze dark and stoic from under the hat he wore, along with a suit of his own. "Not having you out here on your own. I'll come with you. Besides, I haven't been able to have proper shit in days due to that sea voyage. Maybe we can find some decent food around here."
"… Levi." Fury scoffed at his vulgarity. Then again, she expected nothing less. And for a moment, if only for a moment, Fury was able to forget about the bolo tie she wore around her.