I had a lot of ideas for a Superhero AU featuring AoT characters but I couldn't settle on any one idea. But this idea was constantly swirling in my head and I decided on this one, it will likely stay a one-shot but I really grew attached to this idea. Also for their costumes, I am taking heavy inspiration from Sentai(Power Rangers, Kamen Rider etc.). The main shows I took inspiration for the characters costumes would be Ultraman Netflix and Majin Bone. If you're unaware of what their suits look like, I recommend a quick google search so everyone can get the idea in their heads! But other than that, Enjoy!
A Hero's Job
Falco sighed as he looked upon the City of Shiganshina. The boy was was in a bad mood and it was obvious why, he got dumped by Gabi. The girl just couldn't take his secretive lifestyle, but he knew it would be best to not reveal his identity. It made his personal life hell and he was constantly paying the price. His friends Kaya, Udo, Sohpie and now his ex-girlfriend(Gabi) had grown to dislike him. His grades weren't the greatest, his parents are starting to believe he is 'hanging with the wrong crowd.' and of course, the city hated him.
It was hard.
It was hard being a superhero.
Falco continued to lean against the edge of the railing, overlooking the city. The sun shimmered off the high-rise buildings and his white armor with yellow accents glistened. Falco currently had his helmet deactivated; he wanted to feel the slight breeze blow through his hair. He was trying to find comfort where there was none. Falco sighed again getting lost in thought. There was a few seconds of silence before he was brought out his intrusive thoughts by a familiar whooshing sound.
He already knew who it was.
"I knew I'd find you here."
"Yep." Falco thought with a small smile. He heard the footsteps of the visitor come closer. Falco still had his back turned but, he leaned off the railing when the person came to stand next to him. Falco then tilted his head to look at his teacher a bit more. His black and green accented armor glistened under the sun. The green flames that were his wings slowly fizzled out, they no longer were needed as the man just landed. The man was standing up straight with his chest puffed out. Just from how the man presented himself; Falco could feel the power, courage, and understanding he exuded.
He was known as The Attack Titan, the hero of Shiganshina and its protector.
He was also the boys teacher.
The man pressed a button underneath his Jaw and deactivated his helmet, the man didn't want Falco to be talking to the glowing green eyes of his helmet. The helmet whirled and slowly clasped until it rolled down his neck. With this, the mans whole head could be seen, long brown hair tied up and ferocious green eyes that could make any grown man cry for forgiveness.
Eren Yeager.
The secret identity of The Attack Titan.
"So mind telling me why you're brooding up here." Eren said in amusement.
Falco blinked his eyes for a few seconds and then blushed in embarrassment. He sighed and responded,
"Come on! Not right now master! I'm not in the mood for your teasing!"
Eren chuckled and leaned against the railing with Falco.
"Sorry Falco. You're just too easy to mess with." He responded with amusement.
Falco just rolled his eyes and sighed. He then trailed his eyes back over the city and a silence settled between the teacher and pupil. It was a somber silence and Eren already knew the boy was going through something. He has seen this look multiple times, because he's shown and felt it himself. Eren took a deep breath to calm his nerves, he needed to help Falco. There had been no one to teach and support him when he had been young and lost. He had to figure out everything on his own and he didn't want Falco to lose his way or make the same mistakes he had. With new found determination, Eren spoke up,
"Okay Falco, what's bothering you?"
Falco sighed and responded without much enthusiasm.
"Everything."
Eren chuckled, he raised his eyebrow and tilted his head a little.
"Care to explain."
Falco blew some air and he turned to look at Eren before speaking,
"My life's been total shit. Gabi broke up with me because of all the hiding and sneaking around I am doing. All my friends also hate me for being secretive and never making time for them. I'm failing classes, my parents think I'm 'hanging with the wrong crowd' and then the City hates me-well both of us." Falco took a breath to calm himself after his rant and continued, "Everything has been terrible. My life's been falling apart." Falco finished sadly.
Eren let a somber smile come upon his lips, of course he understood. It sounded too familiar, he turned to look up at the sky and formulated his answer. He let out a breath and turned to Falco with a smile.
"Follow me."
Falco raised his eyebrow in confusion but before he got to respond, Eren activated his helmet and jumped off the building. The green flames from Eren's back sprouted and he flew back upwards to the railing of the building they had been conversing on. He hovered near the rail and spoke up again,
"Come on, I want to show you something." He pointed with his thumb in a certain direction over his shoulder.
Then Eren turned around and took off. Falco blinked his eyes for a few seconds before he clumsily jumped off the railing. He activated his helmet along with his wings of blue flames and followed. He didn't understand what his master was doing, but he trusted the man.
Falco had caught up with Eren and they continued to fly through the City in a calm pace. Falco wondered what type of lesson he'd be taught today. Honestly, Falco was not in the mood but he trusted the man. Eren had a way to raise his spirits and teach him something new. He still did not know the full story of Eren Yeager but Falco knew the man has gone through his fair share of problems.
"Okay! We're here!" Eren shouted pulling Falco out of his thoughts. Falco stopped and looked to see Eren had landed below on another building. Falco followed and landed next to Eren with a huff. Eren deactivated his helmet and Falco did so as well, the two then walked over to the edge of the building. The building was across from the Central Park, it was a large one and this building gave a great view of the whole area. But Falco still did not understand, he raised his eyebrow in confusion and spoke,
"Maria Park? I don't understand master, why are we here?"
Eren chuckled a bit and turned to look at the teenager.
"Just bear with me here Falco."
Falco just sighed with a shrug of his shoulder and nodded his head.
"Okay master."
"Great!" Eren responded with enthusiasm.
There was quiet between the two before Eren took a deep breath.
"Okay Falco. Tell me what you see." Eren spoke while pointing towards the park.
Falco tilted his head and observed everything in the park. He did not see anything out of the ordinary, just the normal. Falco just shrugged in confusion and responded,
"I don't see anything out of the ordinary master. Everything seems pretty normal."
Eren just chuckled with amusement and responded,
"Well you're not wrong but, think about it for a bit longer."
Falco just sighed in annoyance and turned back to look at the park. He took a couple of more minutes observing the area but once again, everything seemed normal. He just saw people going about their day. He couldn't figure out his masters puzzle and grew frustrated. Falco clicked his tongue in annoyance and spoke up,
"I give up master. I don't understand what you're trying to teach me?"
Eren chuckled again and decided to take pity on the teen. Eren sighed and leaned against the railing with a smile and responded,
"Falco. You weren't wrong, everything is normal...but it's more than that."
There was a pause.
"That normal we see down there." Eren pointed down to the park, "is the reason why we can't become them."
Falco tilted his head in confusion and Eren saw this.
"Falco. We are not special, they are. They can live their lives because they are free."
There was a pause and Eren continued,
"We merely protect their freedom when someone else tries to take it away."
Falco nodded his head slowly, not fully understanding what his master was saying. Eren saw the distant look in the boys face and knew Falco was still confused so Eren continued,
"Falco. We can't be special like them. We can't live their 'normal'. We are just guys who take their burdens. We just have to do the best we can to protect their freedom."
Eren paused and took a deep breath before continuing,
"The minute we decide to be special like them and stop suiting up, is the minute we give up. Not only on them, but us as well."
Eren then tilted his head to look up at the clear blue sky.
"No matter how many times we get beaten down by the world, we have to get back up, and keep moving forward. It's our job, they are special. We are not, we are just guys who get to watch them."
Eren finished with a smile. He was a bit nervous, Eren hoped that Falco understood his words. He's still trying his best to be a proper teacher; and there are plenty of times where Eren feels like he failed. He turned to look at Falco and saw the boy still looking down, so Eren decided to continue his talk,
"On the subject of Gabi..." he saw Falco lift his head up.
"It's probably for the best."
Falco widened his eyes in shock and before the teen could say anything Eren continued,
"Unfortunately Falco, like I said earlier. We are not special, we can't have their normal, and that also includes getting the girl."
A pause.
"All those tv-shows, movies, and comic books are not reality. In the real world, the hero, doesn't get the girl."
Another pause.
"The only thing we can do, is our best." Eren finished with a somber smile.
Falco widened his eyes, he didn't want to accept reality but it seemed as though Eren understood. Falco could sense this pain but, he also felt another emotion from the man. It was determination. He could feel the pain Eren carried but the man exuded this feeling of pure determination in his words.
A determination to keep moving forward.
Falco slowly let a sad smile come to his face and looked back towards the park with a new feeling, a sense of understanding and sympathy. Sympathy for his master and understanding a bit more of his place in the world. Deciding to lighten the mood, Falco spoke up
"Well, at least I don't have to deal with the fact Reiner is Gabi's older cousin. Imagine having to deal with your girlfriends family member being a villain."
Reiner, the Armored Titan. A villain that Eren has been fighting since his teen years and who is currently incarnated thanks to his efforts. Eren scoffed a bit when he heard this and responded,
"Oh please kid. Imagine having to deal with your ex-girlfriends current boyfriend hating your guts." Eren said with a laugh.
Falco raised his eyebrow in confusion, not fully understanding.
"Care to explain master?"
Eren chuckled and responded,
"Jean Kirstein kid."
Falco widened his eyes and replied in shock
"You mean that bastard?!? The guy who's been bashing you for years and now, me?!?"
Eren couldn't help but laugh at Falcos reaction. Yes, Jean Kirstein ran one of the most popular news companies in the city, The Shiganshina Chronicles. The man is notorious for his vocal hatred of The Attack Titan and now, The Jaw Titan.
"I can't believe that guy is dating your Ex!?! How'd that happen anyway?" Falco continued in interest.
Eren just shook his head with a chuckle. He was about to respond before Eren got interrupted by a loud boom. The two turned towards the direction where the sound had erupted from and saw smoke rising up from the downtown area.
Falco heard Eren sigh and with a chuckle, Eren activated his helmet. He sprinted towards the edge of the building and as Eren ran, he shouted back towards Falco,
"That's a story for another time! For now we've got hero work to do!"
Falco just sighed with a smile. He shook his head before activating his helmet and jumping off the building, catching up with his master.
Falco knew things were going to be difficult, he shouldn't have expected anything else. But no matter what,
"I will keep moving forward."
And there you guys go! A little bit of a different genre than I'm known for but, I really wanted to do a superhero AU. I couldn't get the idea out of my head and this prompt was one of my favorites. I just kept seeing Eren as this older, mature, grizzled Hero and Falco as his protege who's being taught his own lessons. Some hints of MHA and Eren being Falco's All Might, a man who exudes comfort with his presence.
I also took heavy inspirations from Spider-Man with Eren's back story and I saw Falco as his 'Miles'. I also did bounce back and forth on the idea of making Jean their Eddie Brock AKA their own version of Venom but, I decided to make Jean their J. Jonah Jameson. I feel Jean as their JJJ was extremely fitting because at the end of the day JJJ isn't a bad person, he just hates Spider-Man. So I thought making Jean JJJ would be fitting.
I believe if Eren were to be a superhero, he'd be someone like Spider-Man, a guy who takes on everyone's burdens and continues to suffer personally. He also knows that if he stops fighting there'd be hell and chaos. Spider-Man and Eren have extremely similar stories in how much shit the world piles on them, they never catch a break. I will admit, I took huge inspiration from the ending of Cannon and saw how similar their stories are, it helped me see Eren more of the tragic hero who didn't get anything good at the end of the story.