Author's notes: Good afternoon people! I hope everything's fine on your end! Today I have for you a little special something: Behold, the longest chapter as of yet, Almost 6k words woooooh!

Patjeeson: Hello friend! I'm glad to have returned as well! You're right, everyone needs some peace :( They'll get it! Eventually, lol.

Panthera Gilt: Hewo! you can't imagine how it warms my heart to hear you say stuff like that. At the end of the day, this is why I share this story, for people to enjoy, and if people can find it as something to look up to at the end of the week, then I can't be any happier. I don't know either lmao but there *huggs*. Yeah... Sorry about that. I wasn't sure if people would've wanted to stray from the original source material so it was challenging to keep the focus on Carla and Jonas in a way that people would still connect with them. I'm so happy, although undeserving, to hear you say all that! It boosts my confidence like crazy haha. Haaa, this was one of my favorites moments! Ah yeah, Mikasa, it pains me to see her like that, and I'm impressed you've picked up on the little hints I threw in there. I should be more cautious or you'll end up guessing all her past on your own, sheesh. Will you stop praising me AAAAH, Thank you so much for your support, I can't thank you enough. Truly. I try to bring the best out of me to propose something somewhat decent so hearing you say that you like the quality of my fic is stellar. I always look forward to reading your reviews, not in the way that I expect to be complimented, but in the way that I know that I'll get genuine impressions from someone, and I don't even know what to say to that. *Three hugs combo* ehheeh u didn't expect that did ya.

Enjoy :3


ORDEAL

In a dark, gloomy cell, Eren was restrained. He had awoken just a moment ago, yet he already understood the situation he found himself in. As the light of a torch danced across his features, the young man gazed upon his hands and sighed; They were chained, as were his feet.

He shuddered. He was cold. Instinctively, he reached for his collar, but he realized that his scarf was no longer in his possession. Rather, Mikasa was holding on to it in his stead. He didn't fancy people touching what was his, let alone his precious treasure, but that girl was an exception. He knew well that she would be mindful, at the very least, though its absence still bothered him. It wasn't like he had any choice anyway.

Eren looked around, assessing his new quarters. The walls were made of stone, some were even cracked, and he could hear water leak from the ceiling. He was underground, that much was certain. Assuming he was held by the government, that left very few places where he could be retained. The higher-ups wouldn't risk a move as bold as transporting him outside the outskirts of the city. The general public would've found out about his powers otherwise, so he must still be within the confines of the district. He noted that he wasn't dead yet. They were surely setting up a military trial on his account, which meant that, in the meantime, he was held under the great courtroom of Trost. A good enough guess, he thought.

He noticed that the cell that was facing his was plunged into darkness. He narrowed his eyes, and after a while, he could discern two emerald lamps staring back at him.

"You're finally awake."

"Uh, yeah... Why is it so dark in there?"

"My torch ran out of juice..."

"Oh."

He glanced at his own.

"Why don't you ask for another?"

"I don't wanna ask those dogs anything."

"You mean the interior police?"

"Damn right I am."

That seems kinda extreme...

"You're a titan too?"

"I wish," she chuckled, "but no."

"Then why are you here?"

"Dunno, maybe my squad outperformed itself on the feat of dying."

"Oh... You're a squad leader?"

He imagined that she nodded, seeing the lack of response.

"I'm sorry."

His voice was soft.

"Yeah, I'm sorry too."

"What's your name?"

"Carla."

Just like that, Eren's heart dropped.

"Right, you're that girl from way back, aren't you?"

"Oh, you remember me? have I caught your eye? Creepy."

"It-It's nothing like that! Your name stuck out is all."

"What's so special about my name?" She asked, confused.

Everything.

"It reminds me of someone." He revealed, and he was shocked by his own truthfulness. He should probably stop there.

"Who?"

"I don't wanna talk about it."

"Why?"

That's a good point, why?

"Because it brings back painful memories."

"That's sad."

"Why?"

"I'm not sure, but if I kick the bucket, I feel like I'd want people to talk and tell stories about me. I wouldn't want my memory to be sealed inside one heart, condemned to reside there until it dies."

"Why would you care? You'd be dead."

"I know, I'm selfish though, I don't want to be forgotten, like, ever."

"I don't get you."

"I figured."

She was odd, that girl.

"Aren't you... Disgusted by me?"

"I am, you kept me on your mind all this time, creep."

Eren rolled his eyes, annoyed.

"Stop saying that, I already explained why!"

"Not quite you didn't."

"Whatever, forget it."

He laid back against his mattress, fed up but somewhat relieved. It appeared that not everyone viewed him as a monster. He could be thankful for that.

He heard her yawn loudly.

"Aren't you cold?"

"I'm freezing."

Eren retained a sigh.

"You exasperate me..."

"Hey! Keep it down!" Someone angrily complained from the other side of the wall.

"We're just talking, relax."

The soldier approached the girl with a furious pace.

"Quiet! Just wait for your trial, brat! And don't communicate with the titan! Otherwise, I'll report you as an accomplice of his!"

"Where were you when the city was attacked, huh?" The girl defied as she got up.

"What- That's no business of yours!"

She took hold of the bars and clutched them hard.

"Where did you hide? How far did you run?"

"Shut up! Remember your place!" He barked as he hit her with the back of his torch.

Eren heard her grunt and she landed on the hard stone with a thud.

"Hey!"

He shifted his attention to him.

"You've got a problem, titan? Do you wanna make me angry-"

His voice was cut short and he yelped. The girl had landed a blow on his leg. The latter wavered, causing him to kneel in pain.

"Argh, you bastard!"

He didn't have time to say more for she grabbed him by his collar through the rungs and pulled him towards her with force, causing his head to violently hit the steel of the cell bars. She repeated the motion thrice, although he was already knocked out the first time. For good measures.

"Dog." She spat.

Eren watched the scene from the safety of his cage, dumbfounded.

"Are you insane? You're dead!"

The girl picked up the burning torch from the ground. Its light gently caressed her, which allowed him to finally catch a glimpse of her. She was wearing a white dirtied shirt and her pants, which were a part of their 3-dimensional uniform, were shredded and bloodied. A fairly casual attire for those who were there during the fall of the city. Her blond hair was much shorter than he'd remembered though.

"You worry too much, do you really think he's gonna go up there to his buddies and tell them that a little girl got the better of him?"

"You can't be that stupid... that's a huge gamble!"

"What do you want, I'm a betting woman." She gloated, proud of her actions.

Eren could not believe her. How did she survive up until now?

"You didn't think this through did you? You just got angry."

"It turned out alright, didn't it? I can use some warmth now, wasn't that what you wanted earlier?"

To say that that girl was dissipated wouldn't do her justice. She was bad news, and he wouldn't want her anywhere near him on a battlefield. She was unpredictable and seemed to be the type to prefer acting on her own will rather than executing orders or consulting her comrades, which he also did, at times. But he could tell that she was probably worse than him in this regard.

"Allow me to intrude," a strong voice declared, "I am Erwin Smith, Commander of the survey corps."

Eren and Carla were startled at the intrusion of the newcomers.

Behind the Commander, Lance Corporal Levi stood. On his way towards Eren, Erwin glanced at the older soldier passed out on the ground, but he made no comments. It was Levi who queried.

"What the hell happened to him?"

"He-"

"-slipped."

"Oh? Did he now?"

"It matters not, Eren, do you mind a talk?"

"Not at all!"

What was the commander of the Survey Corps doing here, talking to him? He hoped that he wasn't there to assassinate him.

"What about the brat there?" Levi said as he leaned against Carla's cell.

"She... Already knows about my ability, she was part of the team that protected me."

"That simplifies things then," Erwin spoke again, "Eren, I heard about everything you did, and I thank you for saving the city. I came here with a proposal. I want you to join the Survey Corps as an official member."

Eren was taken by surprise. He did not suspect a development such as this one.

"Do you have any questions?"

"I-What about the trial?"

"The Military Police is going to present a case in the hopes to gain your custody, your fate, should they succeed, will result in torture, then death."

"..."

"On the bright side, I don't want to see your abilities go to waste, and if you accept my proposal, I'll do everything in my power to ensure that they'll be used for Humanity's sake. I regret putting you under such conditions, seeing that you might've had other plans for your future."

"My path would've led me to the Survey corps anyway, so I understand."

The choice was evident. The Survey Corps was his goal from the start, he was just shocked that he'd be able to join it this soon. That was if he ever lived, which was another story.

"People usually avoid it, why did you want to join, brat?"

Why?

Because there are no words created by man to even begin to describe his hatred towards them.

Why? he asks.

Because he wanted to avenge his mother and all the mothers, children, and fathers that were preyed upon ever since their creation. Carrying all those centuries of history behind his back, and the memory of all who perished, Eren wanted to exterminate them. He inherited their will, and he was determined to take back their freedom in the only way the titans dealt with; Force. He wouldn't rest until every single one of them disappears from the surface of the earth.

That was why.

"To destroy all titans."

His voice couldn't contain his emotions. Rage, sorrow, fear, and rage again, he wasn't quite sure what expression he was making.

Levi raised his eyebrow, impressed.

"Oh? Not bad."

He approached Eren's cell, and the shadows of the bars that were cast against his skin made him look all the more menacing

"Erwin, I'll take responsibility for him. Tell that to the top brass. It's not that I trust him, but if he ever betrays us or goes berserk, I'll kill him on the spot. I doubt anyone would object since I'm the only one capable of that."

"Very well, we shall take our leave then. I would've had a deeper conversation with you if not for the fact that we are breaking several laws by standing here. We'll talk again soon, I'll be counting on you moving forward. We'll be in need of your powers to retake Maria, that alone should convince the mass to not murder you, I shall hope."

"Right... Thank you, commander, I'll be sure to live up to your expectations!"

Erwin nodded.

"Don't pull out other stunts like this, you'll be of no use dead," Levi tilted his head, gesturing at the knocked soldier.

"Sir!" Carla answered.

Eren could finally breathe. He felt as if he'd been holding his breath during the entirety of the meeting. He needed some time to think things through.

He shouldn't get his hopes up, there was no guarantee that he would outlive the trial. What should he do in the likely event the court hands him over to the police? Should he transform and make a run for it? But where? And how would he climb the wall? He had no equipment. He also couldn't risk destroying Trost's gate, as it would negate all their earlier efforts. He closed his eyes.

There had to be a way.

"I'm rootin' for ya," he heard her lazily say.

He cracked a smile.


"Oi, Mikasa, shouldn't you attend a meeting or somthin'?"

Crap.

The young girl jolted out of her bed, almost dropping to the floor. She didn't realize that she had fallen asleep. After she had bathed and cleaned herself, for the first time since the battle, she decided to join her squad and ended up staying with them for a great part of the night. It didn't take long for everyone to get drunk, and although she managed some restraint, she still couldn't avoid the headache that followed. She couldn't remember how she finished here, but she was thankful for having been able to sleep on a comfy mattress. She hurried to her wardrobe and rooted out her dark green coat. Ymir watched her with a smirk.

"Damn, you're lucky I thought about it."

"What are you doing up this early anyway?"

Ymir took a bite out of her apple.

"Getting talkative ey?"

Mikasa sighed as she discarded her shorts in favor of her formal trainee pants. Ymir sat down on her bed, watching her dress silently. The sunrise's earlier rays were already shining through their half-closed drapes. She didn't waste time changing her shirt. It didn't matter, she would be wearing her coat anyway. She considered Eren's scarf for a moment, unsure.

"Take it," Ymir advised.

"I don't want to- Touch it any more than I've already done."

The word she was about to utter was 'sully', but she refrained from doing so.

The freckled girl shrugged.

"How do I look?"

"Terrible, good thing you're pretty."

Mikasa couldn't contain a light blush.

She cursed at her own reactions. She wasn't used to being complimented, everyone would have guessed that by now. But it wasn't like her to react to things like that nor did she ever display her emotions. Maybe alcohol was running still through her veins. She hoped so.

With a last look in the mirror, and after some readjustments, the girl stormed out of her room. She paced the corridors, practically running. The great courtroom of Trost resided about five minutes away from the headquarters. Many governmental and military buildings were stationed in close fashion, which helped keep the power concentrated on one point all the while assuring the safety of the area.

Soon she spotted the entrance of the imposing building. Of white bricks and stone, the judiciary military court was dominating all other edifices. The great gate was bejeweled on each side by marble pillars supporting two winged and noble statues, each carrying a book and a scale. The large windows that adorned the palace were laid in an even manner on either side of the gate, with arches separating them.

"Mikasa! I was worried you'd not make it!"

She noticed Armin amidst the bustling crowd in the square.

"Sorry."

"Come on, we'll be late!" He pressed her, and together they entered the great building.

They weren't. The trial seemed to have been somewhat delayed. People were still standing outside the room that would soon house the ruling.

"How're you holding up?" She asked whilst they took a seat.

"Not good, I'm having a fucking panic attack."

Mikasa studied him. His eyes were drenched in dread and it was clear that he didn't sleep the night. His hands were shaking and she could easily notice his attempts to conceal it. She couldn't blame him, the life of his closest friend was at stake.

"I know you're not that close with Eren but, can I ask something of you?"

She nodded.

"They'll surely ask us questions about what happened downtown, I want you to be as honest as possible."

"Are you sure? Wouldn't that seem... Bad?"

"I think it's futile to lie. Talk about that scar and how you got it, but talk about how he saved us."

"That way..."

"Your testimony and mine could gain some credibility." He finished.

"I mean, I don't know... Should we do that? Or lie a little? Agh... We can't mess this up, if we do, he might- He might..."

"Calm down, Armin. Wasn't it Eren who said that you had the ability to seek out the right answers? Trust in yourself."

She hoped her voice sounded confident, because she wasn't. He took a deep breath.

"Right... You're right. Sorry for that." He tempted a smile.

"Attention! Order in the court!" The spokesperson, an aged man with a stern look on his face, called, "I shall announce the beginning of military case number 12785, titled YeagerSP1. It is currently 9:33 in the morn, on the 13th of March 427 AW. The parties involved will consist of the Survey Corps and the Military Police. No other intervention will be tolerated. Both parties are allowed to call their witnesses, and only those that have already been greenlit by his eminence are allowed on the stand. This trial will be presided over by supreme commodore Zarius Zackly. Are both parties in agreement?"

From the right side, Erwin Smith stood up. "The Survey Corps agrees with Mr. The spokesperson."

Mimicking him, from the left side now, Nile Dawk said, "the Military Police agrees with Mr. The spokesperson."

"Bring the prisoner!"

Mikasa was beginning to feel it now. She was beginning to feel the reality of the situation. She turned her head towards the doors that had been opened, revealing a handcuffed Eren escorted by several soldiers. All heads were glued to his steps, and he seemed greatly intimidated by that. He looked around, confused, and she held her gaze, trying to meet his eyes in a faint attempt to convey to him whatever strength she could, but he didn't spot her amidst the crowd. He reached a small elevated area near the far center and was immobilized by a heavy bar that they embedded between his cuffs and the ground.

Shortly after, an old man made his appearance and all rose in a show of respect. Commodore Zackly was an important asset to humanity. He single-handedly managed to rebuild the three divisions that were slowly rotting and deteriorating away, and under his leadership, they regained their splendor of old. He also supervised countless projects that proved crucial during the crisis that they faced five years ago. Communication, training, and management, all attained their peak under his wing. He was a man whom everyone trusted, and fit for a trial of such magnitude.

"Good morning everyone, I think we shall begin without any further delay..." He proceeded nonchalantly, "Eren Yeager, I will determine your fate. Whether you live or die will rest upon my decision. Do you understand?"

Eren raised his head to meet his judge.

"Yes, sir, I- I understand."

"I commend you for your show of altruism. Very well then, we shall proceed with the Military police's opening statement. Squad commander... Dawk, you have up to five minutes. If you exceed that time limit, I shall interrupt you even if you're in the middle of a point. If you continue to talk after my warning, I shall have you removed from the court and destitute your status for insubordination and misconduct in a military court, understood?"

The concerned stood up.

"Understood sir."

"You may proceed."

"We, the Military Police, are landing a solid claim to gain custody of Mr. Eren Yeager of Shiganshina. Our motives are simple. We wish to imprison him and conduct experiments in order to uncover anything we can that can benefit Humanity's struggle against our predators. We are more than confident that we will be able to understand better how the titans operate and we are certain of finding new ways that would allow us to neutralize them in a safer, and more efficient way than our current methods. Eren Yeager cannot be permitted to live, as he poses a great menace to our existence, and so, after an intricate study of his body, he'll give his life for humanity and we will raise his name as a hero. That concludes our statement."

Zackly raised his eyebrows as he listened to Nile's last few words.

"Thank you, Dawk. Erwin Smith, we will hear your opening statement now, as mentioned before you have five minutes, and so on and so forth..."

"Sir. We, the Survey Corps, are asking this court to allow Eren Yeager to join our ranks as an official member."

The old man scratched his head.

"Is that all?"

"That is all. We believe that his strength is imperative for our survival. With him at our side, we will be able to take back our lands, and maybe in the near future, rid all lands of titans."

"I've heard both opening statements. Military Police, you may call your first witness."

"We call Mikasa Ackerman, from the 104th Brigade."

Mikasa's heart sank at the mention of her name. She wasn't expecting to act as a witness for them. She looked at Armin, nervous.

"Do you have any objections?"

"No, your honor."

"Alright, Mrs. Ackerman, come to the stand."

The girl felt the weight of everyone's gaze behind her back, but she didn't waver. She made her way to the stand and shared a glance with Eren. He looked frail, there, almost broken. The figure of the heroic man who led their forces against the spreading evil traded place with a defenseless young boy, who was awaiting diligently the decision about his fate.

"Mikasa Ackerman, you were part of the force that was tasked by Garrison commander Pixis to protect Yeager, correct?" Niles asked.

"Uh- Yes, I-"

"Louder, please."

"Yes! That is correct." She repeated.

"How do you know Eren Yeager?"

She was surprised by the question.

"Do you mean, how I met him?"

"Yes."

"We were part of the same Brigade, then squad."

"What are your feelings towards him?"

"Pardon-?"

"Objection, your honor. Leading." A girl with glasses, from the Survey Corps' side, protested. Mikasa looked at her, not expecting her involvement. The girl winked at her and offered her an encouraging smile.

"Retained."

"What are your impressions of him?"

"Objection, leading again."

"Retained."

Nile sighed, slightly annoyed.

"What if any impressions do you have towards him?"

Mikasa was lost.

"Uh, I don't really know. He is a comrade whom I learned to trust. He is someone who saved me-"

"Your honor, I asked her about how she felt towards him, not about what he has or hasn't done. I ask of you to strike everything she said." Nile interrupted.

"Retained. Mrs. Ackerman, please stick to the question."

Her pulse quickened. She nodded.

"Trust. I would say trust."

And admiration.

"Have you witnessed any scenes of outburst from him?"

"Objection, leading!"

"Retained."

"Has he ever been angry at you?"

"Your honor, lack of foundations!"

"Retained."

"Your honor, I'm trying to lay a foundation..."

"The objection was retained," Zackly repeated, firm.

"What if any display of anger have you witnessed?"

She was starting to see where this was going.

"I can recall three instances in which he was angry."

"Elaborate."

"The first time was against another member of our squad, Jean Kirshtein, the second time was towards his own self, and the third time was when our former comrade, Thomas Wagner, was killed by a titan-"

"Your honor, I ask to strike everything after 'the third time'."

"Overruled."

"Alright." Nile tried to contain his irritation. "Did you feel threatened by him during those instances?"

"No."

"Why is that?"

"Because I can easily kill him."

"Uhuh, isn't that a bold claim?"

"I don't believe it is, sir." She assured, almost defying him to contradict her.

"Your honor, if you take a look at report forty-five, you'll see that Mr. Eren Yeager has been known for having excessive anger mismanagement. He reportedly broke several pieces of furniture, and damaged one of the tables of the Training camp cafeteria."

"Objection, relevance?"

"If you can follow up with something relevant, I'll overrule the objection."

"I can, your honor. Eren's lack of control is proof that we cannot trust in his capacity to control his powers and-"

"I retain the objection, next question."

"You honor, I can add something."

"This is your last chance, Dawk."

"Mrs. Ackerman, how did you get that scar?"

Mikasa tensed.

"Objection, leading."

"Overruled."

"I obtained it while I crashed on a roof."

She messed up, didn't she?

"Why did you crash?"

"I escaped Eren's attack."

She heard gasps and whispers from all around the room, and Eren's eyes were wide in surprise. So he didn't know, as she thought.

"Why did he attack you?"

"He lost control, momentarily."

"Your honor, I ask to overrule the earlier objections. I believe that I've managed to link the relevance of my earlier questions with this."

Zackly nodded.

"Thank you. Mrs. Ackerman, how much time was Yeager incapacitated?"

"Objection! Lack of foundation."

"Retained."

"What happened after he attacked you?"

"relevance?"

"Overruled."

"He... Laid against the boulder."

"How was his state?"

"He couldn't move."

"For how much time?"

"I don't recall, maybe ten minutes."

"Did you have to protect him?"

"Your honor, this is clearly leading..." The same girl pleaded, incredulous at Nile's attempts.

"Retained."

"What did you do-"

"leading again..."

"Retained."

"Alright. After Eren sealed the gate, how many people died protecting him?"

"Relevance and lack of foundation?"

"Retained on account of relevance. Dawk, you have one minute left."

"That'll be all your honor, thank you."

"Alright..." Zackly sighed, seemingly already tired.

Mikasa tucked a flyaway strand behind her ear. She was glad the interrogation was over, although she was worried about how badly she'd performed. Eren held his head low. He was surely blaming himself for attacking her, or so was her guess. She looked at Armin who smiled at her softly, and all her doubts vanished. She was overthinking it too much.

"Erwin Smith, you may cross-examine."

Oh. It wasn't over.

"Thank you, your honor. Good morning, Mikasa. I shall begin by asking a few questions if that's alright."

"Right..."

"You talked about what happened when he transformed, can you tell us more?"

"Objection!" A man from the Military police unit contested.

Nile glanced at him, disapproving.

"... On?"

"Lack of foundation."

"Overruled."

"After Eren transformed, and while I didn't know who he was yet, he saved me from certain death and made sure I was safe before he started attacking any titan he encountered." She said as she stared at her friend, who was slowly raising his head again. "His actions allowed us to reach headquarters and refill our gas, which saved all our lives. He also saved the city by closing the gate."

"Tell me, Mikasa, why did you stand against the garrison when Eren was confronted?"

"I acted out of selfishness," she confessed, "but thinking about it now, I'm certain that we cannot achieve anything without him within our ranks."

"I see, and what happened when they fired at you?"

"Objection, leading!"

"Overruled."

"He transformed and protected me and our fellow squad members."

"Knowing all this, do you trust him still?"

"Yes."

"That is all, thank you."

"Mrs. Ackerman, you may leave the court or go back to your seat."

"Thank you."

She promptly joined Armin who placed a comforting hand on hers.

"You did good, thank you." He whispered.

Her heart was racing.

"Survey Corps, you may call your witness."

"Your honor, we do not wish to call any witness."

"Oh? I have here a list of several witnesses that you presented, Kirshtein, Wayman, Arlert..."

"Seeing the development of the case, we believe that there is no further need to call them."

"This is quite unheard of. Military Police, you may call your other witnesses."

"We don't need any more. All the reports speak for themselves. The only variable that we needed to hear from, was miss Ackerman."

"I see. This is the first time a trial such as this one was held. I have all the reports between my hands and the witness's account. My judgment had already been rendered from the moment I was made known about the case. Eren Yeager, do you believe you can assume your role as a member of the Survey Corps?"

"Yes, sir, I believe that I can." He responded, hope making its way into his heart.

"Lies!"

"A titan cannot be trusted!"

"Put him to death!"

There it was. The moment she had feared the most.

The crowd was in chaos.

"Silence! Silence!" The judge ordered.

"He will kill us all! Kill him first!"

"Kill all of his regiment! He may have poisoned their minds!"

"No! They have nothing to do with me!"

"Liar! They're all titans!"

"Leave them alone!" He raged, with a voice so powerful it shook the walls, and Mikasa could swear she saw embers of yellow and red swaying around him. "You're wrong..." He repeated, this time softly. "All you are doing is blurting out convenient speculations."

"Huh?"

"To begin with, you've never seen a titan before, so what are you so afraid of? How can we afford to not let those with power fight? If you're so scared to fight, then lend me your strength! You fucking cowards! Just shut up and bet everything on me!"

Silence befell the room.

"Take aim!" Shouted a soldier in fear.

Before anyone had time to act, Levi was already on him. The next moment, Eren found himself head first against the ground, and his body trembled as the Lance Corporal's boot landed harshly on him. He didn't defend himself, nor did he try to. All he did was groan in pain under each attack.

"Oi... Stop..."

"Why?" He continued, unbothered, with each blow stronger than the previous one.

"Its... He could transform."

"Why does it matter? If you're gonna open him up, don't you think he'll transform as well? Do you believe you can kill him?"

"I-"

His last blow landed on Eren's jaw, knocking a tooth out. His face stumbled to the ground, bruised and swollen. Levi grasped a chunk of the boy's hair, and raised him up, displaying it to the assembly like an exotic trophy.

"Corporal Levi, do you believe you can neutralize him should he go on a rampage?"

"Yes. In fact, I believe I'm the only one who can."

"That's sorted then. I cannot be bothered to punish everyone here for their misconduct. I've had enough of this case. Yeager goes to the Survey Corps, the session is ended."

"Your honor! This is... This can't-"

"Anyone who even whispers a word will get jailed for two years."

In a loud silence, everyone left the courtroom.


Eren was finally permitted to quit the Great Hall. Judge Zackly had just briefed him about his new status in the eyes of the government. He was... A free man, and he couldn't quite believe it yet. He was free, but he also was under the tutelle of Corporal Levi Ackerman, which meant that his senior had the right of life and death over him, without the need to provide any kind of reason. Which was certainly dreadful, but better than what he had hoped for going into the trial. Whilst the decision made him anxious, he trusted in the corporal and in his choice-making. He had to.

Now that he was free, he could finally join the Survey Corps. His goal was nearing, and now he had to fight for it. Using his newfound powers, Eren Yeager was determined to shift the balance to their advantage. He was as determined, if not more, to eradicate any titan that crossed his path. He wanted to erase their very existence, until their very memory's remains become but dust in the wind.

"Eren!"

He turned around and noticed Armin and Mikasa calling after him. The young boy rapidly closed the distance and he took them both in his arms, first Armin, then Mikasa, who was clearly not expecting a show of affection, but she didn't withdraw from his hold.

"Thank you, the both of you." He murmured, warm.

"I'm sorry, Eren, for everything, I-" Armin began, tears threatening to flow.

"Knock it off Armin, you deserve the praise, you're the one who saved my life!"

"But- Because of me, you- I couldn't do anything back there..."

"I can't believe you're still thinking about that! If it wasn't for you, the city and probably Rose would have been destroyed by now!"

"You're just lying now..."

"I'm not!

While he was trying to knock some sense into his friend, he didn't notice Mikasa slip past him, and while standing behind him, she wrapped something warm around his neck. Something he missed dearly. He brought his fingers to it, almost hesitantly. The familiar smell didn't forsake it despite the blood and dirt that knawed it. He turned to face her.

"Thank you, Mikasa, for everything."

She just offered him a smile. A sincere one, and this moment struck him as the second time he ever witnessed her do so. Mikasa's smile turned into a soft gasp as Eren took her once again into a sweet embrace.

"E-? Eren?"

He didn't say anything, he didn't need to. He was glad that she was alive, and terribly sorry for what he put her through, and so he said the words that he so badly wanted to tell her.

"I'm sorry..." He whispered.

She was too shocked to respond. She just awkwardly stood there, mouth half open, still processing what was happening. Armin seemed as lost at her. It was rare to see his friend as tactile, which he was starting to slowly be towards her.

"What a sorry sight you make, everyone asking forgiveness from each other, you make me wanna puke." Ymir made herself noticed.

"Ymir!" Eren exclaimed, "I wasn't sure you'd make it," he teased.

"Happy to see your head still hanging blue eyes, come on let's go, everyone's waiting for your sorry ass."

"Uhm, Eren?"

Oh.

"Right, sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." He apologized as he let go of Mikasa, who didn't quite know what to do with her arms.

"You're coming or not?!" Ymir grew impatient.

For the first time since the beginning of the battle, the 104th Brigade was whole once again. The fallen, they would be carried with them in their hearts.


Notes: Alright, that concludes Trost saga. I'm curious to know how you felt about the flow, pace, and dialogue of the chapter. It's my first time attempting something this big, so any feedback is helpful! Don't shy away and obliterate me if necessary! Also, I played with fire with the trial scene, but I felt it was more fitting for my AU. Keep in mind that things are a little bit different, yet not tooo different from the original timeline. I want you all to feel a bit lost yet not that lost. It's hard to explain but I understood myself lmao. As always, thank you so much for the support, and I'll see you next week :3