Chapter 9

Armin's gaze lifted from the map to meet Bane's. His lifeless eyes locked on his for a second, then he nodded.

_Your idea is good. Having the rest of the people as bait will save Eren a lot of trouble. Of course, he'll be in the company of several squads to protect him from any wandering creatures.

_I know -the blonde replied-. It's just... don't know if this is good enough. If we had more time...

_Armin -Bane cut him, placing a hand on his shoulder- do not doubt. Your plan is by logic the best one to follow. It will work; if Eren can do his part or not, is beyond your control. Let us worry about it.

_Us?

_I was requested as part of the team, given i have the most experience... the only experience working with Jaeger so far, as well as the skill to... possibly survive.

He stood and when Armin did the same, he offered his hand. Surprised, the small blonde took it.

_In case i do not come back... or in case you do not -he said softly- i'm honored to have battled at your side, Armin. Goodbye.

Arlert blinked and nodded, a fierce and decided expression on his face. They both left to join their comrades; the blonde in the wall as bait, and Bane as part of the people protecting Jaeger.

_Remember -he said as he reached them- that judging from my experience, Eren may not be conscious when he transforms. So when he does...

_If he does -said Rico.

_...We'll have to check if he's in full control. Hopefully he'll just stand there if he's not awoken. So it will be our job to get him up and working.

_And if he does not just stand there? -someone asked and Alastor shrugged.

_Be ready for anything.

As they waited for the signal to move on, Bane checked his comrades' faces and found nerves, fear and uncertainty. At Ian's command, they moved towards the insertion point. Mikasa ran in front of him, her shiny black hair gleaming under the dying day's light.

_Everyone, we're in place! Proceed to the mission point!

Bane jumped down, feeling the air on his face as he went down, his heart beating faster in the few seconds before he launched his cables and hooked to the wall, slowing as he made his way to a building and followed Ian to where they'd really begin their counterattack: the giant stone Eren was to carry. Not a second after he arrived, there was a flash of light and an exploding sound as Eren's titan materialized in the air and promptly crash landed on a house. The creature stood from the rubble, steam lifting from its muscled body as it issued a defiant roar. Alastor looked as he began walking to the rock from wher he stood, atop a house. He glanced at Mikasa, standing on the roof opposite his; he saw Eren's titan seemed to notice her as well and...

Jaeger attacked his sister. Bane opened his eyes in surprise as his punch destroyed part of the house. She jumped to a side, rolling and standing in a blink.

_Eren, it's me! Mikasa! Your...!

She jumped again, phrase cut when he attacked once more. From the other side, Alastor saw the Garrison squads standing in confusion, unsure of what to do. Jaeger could kill Ackerman if they didn't do something.

_EREN! -he shouted, hoping to catch his attention.

The creature stopped as it lifted a fist, seemingly frozen. It turned slowly towards the male.

_Eren! -he said, mustering all the authority he could- Listen to me! Don't forget your mission! Your goal!

The titan walked towards Bane, eyes fixed on him. Alastor just stood there, not breaking eye contact and muscles ready to act in case of an attack. Jaeger stopped a few meters from him.

_You know who i am! You remember i am in command of your squad now! Stay still! You two...!

He pointed vaguely at a roof, where a couple soldiers stood, eyes still meeting Eren's titan's gaze. The pair looked at him, expectantly.

_... Come here and wake him! He's still in the nape, you'll have to pull him out until he wakes up! No questions, move it!

Both men looked at Ian, who nodded slowly, blades unsheathed and face pale as the titan just stood in front of Alastor. The silence was overwhelming, no one dared to even breath too loudly as the soldiers swung and landed on each of Eren's shoulders. The titan turned his face slightly, and one of them eeped in fear.

_Eren, look at me! -Bane's said loudly, the titan's attention going back to him- Don't worry, they're going to help you, trust me! While the rest -he shouted slightly annoyed- will definitely cover us instead of standing doing nothing!

Ian blinked, frowning and making signs for the squads to move, not daring to shout orders. One by one, they moved to meet the titans approaching.

_Damn brat! -mumbled the commander with a bitter laugh as he moved- He's the only one still thinking clearly!

Slowly and cursing at the heat, both men managed to get a grip on Eren as Bane kept talking to him, the titan seemingly entranced by his words. With a strong pull, they brought the teen's upper body out of the flesh, and he instantly blinked in confusion.

_Wha... what's going...?

_Jaeger! -came a shout from the front- Wake the fuck up and take that damn rock at once! We've wasted enough time waking you up!

_Ye-yes sir! -he answered, slightly panicked.

Immediately, he sunk back in the nape and moved to the giant rock as the men on his shoulders jumped down and proceeded to follow Alastor as he made his way towards the rest. He arrived in time to assist in killing a twelve meter monster chasing Ian's squad.

_Eren's up, and working! -he barked- How's the situation?

_We lost four people already. And there are two... three titans nearby.

Bane nodded, whistling for his companions to follow him and running towards a ten meter creature. He jumped and swung in front of it, avoiding its sloppy attacks and landing on a roof, thrusting forward as the creature's hand smashed the spot he was on. His blades stabbed its eyes, leaving it blinded and still in the street; a few moments later it fell, cut down by one of his cohorts. He nodded in recognition at the man and moved towards the gate.

_Mikasa! Help me take these two!

Not waiting for an answer he went forward, the sound of her gear following shortly after as they approached the titans giving the other squads trouble; from the street came Eren's crushing steps as he carried the boulder. He gave a quick look at Mikasa and she nodded. They circled one around each titan, bringing them closer without hesitation; suddenly they neared the creatures, passing at their sides. The monsters followed their movement, trying to catch them; instead they swatted each other in the face, falling sat on the ground. Both cadets crossed each other in the air and shot their hooks at the same time, hooking on a nape, spinning and slicing one titan each in perfect synchrony. Some soldiers gaped at their performance, the two standing in front of the broken gate.

_What on... how even...?

_Weren't they recruits? How can they do that so... so...?

_Ten coins, they're shaggin'.

_Albert! -said Rico, disgusted- That's nothing to do...

_Rico! -Ian's shout cut her- More titans approach from the district!

_Keep them distracted! -Bane told them from the street- At least two are coming from outside, Mikasa and i will take care of them! Eren's almost here!

He ran towards the broken gate and got over the threatening hole, blades ready. The asian stood at his side.

_You or me first? -she asked.

_Age before beauty -he said and she lifted an eyebrow at him-. I'm a bit older.

She was about to reply when a gigantic hand gripped the wall's stone. A titan poked its head, looking around before giving a step inwards and falling instantly, nape cut open. Bane stood on it as it fell, jumping down before it made impact. A whizzing sound followed by a crash, and he turned to see the second titan dead on top of his, steam rising from the bodies.

_Stay here, in case another comes! I'll be right back!

He went after the other groups, busy fighting a small group of titans that followed them around the streets, avoiding them instead of fighting to earn time.

_Eren's near the gate! -he shouted- We need a squad to cover him while he's vulnerable!

_My team's on it! -Rico answered, calling her people- Try to keep the titans off our backs!

They moved towards the gate, but two creatures followed them. Alastor waited until they were past him to swing and shoot his grappling hooks on the nearest's back, spinning and slashing it down in one move; the second moved faster so he raced after it, hooking on the walls to gain speed and thrusting upwards, flying above it in a curve that had him in course to land on the back of its neck. He braced for impact, holding both swords downwards and slamming them on its flesh, the impact shaking him and breaking the blades, but also killing it. He discarded the broken blades and sped up to meet Rico.

_Keep going! I'll act as decoy! -he informed the team heading for the outer street, readying his spare blades.

Bane saw another titan come his way, and two more approach from afar; fighting them alone wasn't an option so he neared the creatures and drove them away from the rest as fast as he could, staying out of reach but close enough to keep them on his trail. He could hear the noises of gear mixed with shouts and screams, as well Eren's ground-shaking steps as he got closer and closer to the gate. From his position he could see the white shape of the boulder looming above the roofs; it was just a matter of time for him to make it.

Bane dove to a side as a titan tried to grab him, hooking to a wall and attacking a different one, slicing both eyes. The creature stumbled aimlessly, colliding with another titan in a mess of limbs, while the shorter of the trio moved after him. In that moment a loud crashing sound reached his ears and he sped up towards the outer zone of the district. Either Eren had tripped and fallen or...

He arrived in time to see Rico shouting at his squad to take the boy out of the steaming body while she shot a yellow flare to sign their success; at the same time he saw the rest of the groups make their way to the top of the walls and he followed suit: soon everyone was up and safe.

_Alastor! You made it!

He turned to Mikasa, who looked at him in relief; Eren's head rested on her lap, the teen was sound asleep. Bane turned to them but stopped when he heard the sound of gear climbing the wall. He looked behind to check if someone had stayed behind, but he realized that the sound came from the outer side of the wall. That meant...

Levi Ackerman shot up and landed gracefully on the wall, followed by more and more members of the Survey Corps members. He looked around, frowning at the amount of people he saw, and turned to face Erwin as he too arrived and blinked in surprise at them.

_Oi, what the hell is going on? How did you put that damn rock in there?

_The Garrison forces... Ian? Is that you? -Erwin asked when he spotted the head of the mission team.

Ian stood by the wall's edge, looking down at the titans gathering on the street. Smith went to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. With a start, the man turned around and Bane took note of his expression: his eyes were bright, but his face looked lost and he blinked as if he didn't understand what was going on.

_Ian? What happened? -Erwin said, looking at the man with mild concern. The other swallowed and looked down before meeting his gaze.

_We... we did Erwin. We've won our first victory. Our first... but what are you doing here? Weren't you in an exp...?

_We saw the titans moving in mass towards here. We suspected an attack. But just as we arrived you somehow sealed the gate. How did you do that? And who are they?

He turned to look at Eren, Mikasa and Alastor, the last two still raringe their trainee's jackets.

_They helped us regain Trost. The boy, the one asleep, he's... you won't believe it, but he... Bane, come here. You have more details on that, and Erwin should hear it from you.

_Bane? Alastor Bane? -the Commander said with sudden interest- Shadis told me about you. He came here explicitly to recommend you as a worthy addition to the Corps. And judging by what happened here, i'd say he wasn't wrong.

Alastor stepped forward, saluting both officers with respect. But before speaking about Eren he needed to say something else.

_Mitabi's group isn't here.

Ian's features hardened at his comment, and he shook his head.

_No. He and his team took on most titans. Only two survived. But their deaths weren't in vain.

_Commander Smith, you've heard of me from Instructor Shadis. Now i have the task to tell you about another worthy addition to the Legion...

He turned to look at Eren, still asleep. When he faced Smith, his smile was almost unnerving.

_And trust me... this one is more than worth the trouble you'll face to get him.

End of Chapter.