"It's unfortunate but there's nothing I can do about it doctor. Levi will provide training for Eren and we'll keep up our mutually beneficial arrangement."
To be fair, it wasn't such a bad deal that Commander Erwin had reverted to, the children would still learn how to fight and defend themselves from seasoned soldiers. Except he'd just discovered that Levi actually had no formal training and the person who came with him was Hange, likely because she just wanted to get as close to both shifters in her lifetime.
As they arrived at his new house, Eren and Armin bounded out into the street. Grisha was glad to see them well yet he couldn't shake the fear of Eren's future.
For Eren's Future. I have nothing to fear from him, yet.
Levi took in the environments and his new student with a look of disinterest, even when they entered the house and Mikasa almost bumped into him. Hange passed him a bag of pastries and subtly nudged him forward.
"You're Eren right? Here."
He lightly dumped the bag in Eren's hands, and ignored Armin's attempt to take his coat. It took Grisha a few seconds to realise he was waiting to be led to a suitable training space. A subtle nod upstairs was enough of a conversation between both men and the fragile peace between them. Grisha slumped into the closest chair just before he heard Mikasa's breath catch short.
Hange… Not now
In the tense atmosphere he'd ignored about the second scout, who busied herself poking Eren's face and feeling his temperature. Hange cast a questioning glance back at Grisha who shook his head. Eren knew nothing and would know nothing for a while. Levi added his dull voice from beside Grisha without having the simple courtesy to let him know when he had returned.
"Let's start, Eren."
"Start? What's happening?"
"What do you want with Eren?"
"Aren't you a patient?"
Eren was confused, Mikasa a few steps short of aggressive and Armin had already brought Grisha's instruments out.
"Oh! You're both doctors!"
"Eren has a fever."
"I told you I'm fin-"
"Stuff it rascals. I'm giving you self-defence lessons and that's all you need to hear, head upstairs last room on the right. You can put the scalpel back in the bag girl, your lack of stealth is irritating."
"If Eren is training then so am I."
"I'll watch."
"No watching, and if you drop out, it's Eren I'm being paid for."
Mikasa and Armin turned to Grisha both armed with guilt-inducing faces in their own way as Hange stifled a grin. Grisha turned to Levi, while trying as best he could to non-verbally ask them to be considered.
"Fine. Three or one, it doesn't matter."
Eren dashed up stairs with a spring, missed a step and before they could blink went face first into the landing. Mikasa and Hange went for him, one of them making a short shriek. Hange reached him first and wiped his nose clean of the light cut, and stared… Until it began to bleed again to her dismay; Grisha was internally amused but despite Eren's new regeneration powers, it wouldn't look well to sit and watch his son's injuries from afar. The same thought must have occurred to Eren as his eyes coldly locked unto his father's .
"Let it go. Just release your nose."
Eren breathed and steam irrupted from his nose and sealed it shut. His eyes flashed but there was no outburst, no cry of disbelief or reaction apart from his body swaying as he looked at their faces in turn. The guarded expressions on the faces of Grisha and Hange then Mikasa's wide eyes and Armin's confusion because his view of that oddity had been blocked and finally, Levi who as always looked bored. Eren started in surprise after the tense silence.
"Capta- Captivating."
"Don't bite your tongue." Armin weakly joked. It was a fair attempt at lightening the mood, and Grisha laughed if only to soften the next blow.
"You're not half-titan if that crossed your mind. Just the-"
Child that would save Eldia? You want to do that again?
Levi noticed him hesitating and clicked with annoyance. Hange smiled warmly and led them down the stairs to sit down. She casually lifted two buns from the bag and handed them to Mikasa and Armin.
"Now then, may I?"
"But Uncle Grisha, w-why would you do that to E-eren? He never asked for it."
"The more important question is how. If the scouts had this then we'd be able to retake Wall Maria in a day!"
Hange smiled at Armin's optimistic estimate even as her eyes belied the smile on her face. In truth the scouts were overwhelmed especially with the government's refusal to let them leave the walls more than once a few months. Eren's abilities would cut down both time and deaths, but only if…
"I'll do it! It don't care whether I asked for it. I- it's in my hands ." Eren's impassioned speech by far lacked his usual fury, yet Grisha found himself growing proud of the steadfast resoluteness that was blooming in its place. If only Carla had seen him grow, if only. Eren turned to Levi,
"You're here to train me to fight, right? Then let's train. I won't change my mind about this and I won't regret this decision! I swear!"
Regret? That's an odd word to use.
Levi stood up and looked down on the trio.
"How presumptuous of you."
For the next month and up until the next expedition, Levi showed up unfailingly everyday at the Jaeger residence to run the three of them through gruelling exercises, endurance runs throughout the streets and fields with combat training when they returned. Arlelt was more than uncomfortable about the strain his grandson was being put through but all his fears ended the day the Wall Maria Reclamation plan was privately announced to them by none other than Commander Erwin himself.
"In truth it is, as you suspected, nothing more than a culling, I suppose that as citizens of Wall Sina both of you would be exempt. On the other hand the government is most indecisive ever since the tragedy at the Reiss Chapel." Erwin gave Grisha a pointed look, without saying any unnecessary words. Grisha inclined his head to accept culpability before some idea came to him.
"It almost sounds Commander, like you feel I'm to blame for this horrific plan." Grisha took a long draw of his tea, "Surely when you protested against this… genocide they didn't threaten the scouts, did they?" Both Grisha and Erwin locked eyes in silent conflict. Erwin didn't trust Grisha and Grisha was more than aware of the unabated hostility from any scout like Levi brought in to help the children master arts and martial skills. Of course, Grisha was well convinced that someone like Erwin, ruthless as he was, would hardly bat an eye at such civilian casualties except sadness at the loss of potential.
"No direct threat was made to the scouting regiment or any of its officers. In fact the talks were quite productive. I proposed the revival of the Northern Survey Corps to a significantly receptive audience of the assembly. No doubt they see it as-" Erwin Smith's calm recollection was interrupted by a slam of a body to the floor just a few rooms left and above them. He paused and rose up.
"Excuse me for a moment."
"By all means, this way."Grisha was certain that whatever Smith was up to, power-play or intimidation, he could obviate and surpass it in his own grounds. The two men silently made their way up the stairs to the training room quietly where Levi allowed his body to be used by Armin to demonstrate the act of choke-holding someone down to the ground.
"It's quite a good thing that Levi has found an activity to throw himself into, much like you and Eren will very soon once you begin your missions with the Corps tomorrow. So yes, I'm certain I can no longer wait for Eren's training. He must train concurrently with the missions. As I was about to explain, the decision to split the corps comes out of necessity to protect the people of the walls as you name us. Miche will take both you and a fair amount of the scouts north while I head south with Eren, by this method, we should be able to double the effectiveness of the corps."
Grisha frowned, the Royal Government? Giving concessions to the scouts wasn't the usual procedure. This only furthered his intuition that the Reiss family was the true royal family leading from the shadows.
And with the head gone…
Levi lifted from the ground with ease, setting the children to the usual regiments and exercises then joining them at the doorway.
"Ackerman and Eren are picking it up quickly. Ackerman has… almost has perfect control over her body while Eren knows the general idea of what to do. It's just Arlelt that needs to pick up. He's more into brain work than combat; you sure you don't have time for an assistant Erwin?" The Commander frowned and sized up the huffing boy with his eyes,
"The expedition's roster is complete. I'm afraid you'll be staying at home with your family, Levi. It's their turn once again to survive without you." Grisha tuned them out and strode to where Eren was making humorous impressions of teachers to convince Armin to finish his last sit-ups. The moment Grisha was out of earshot the two scouts took a step backwards in sync and Levi spoke first.
"The titan kid acting weird, telling me about 'no regrets' like that should be important to me. And then there's the way he fights, like an old dog gone to ground. He'd tell you how to fight alright but a good opponent would flip him in practice." Grisha looked their way at this point yet Levi, the smooth thug that he was, neither flinched nor faltered keeping his voice and face level, "He's got heart on the other hand, more than the other two, and they're no slouches. Almost feel sorry for them. If it's killing pure Titans you want him to do, he won't flop his hands at them for now."
"Miche's split from the main scouts will be next week and they'll take you along; Doctor." Grisha grimaced at being caught trying to eavesdrop. Erwin was fairly amused at the man's attempt at stealth. But he mastered his face and hardened his voice.
"You will be going to a pit of despair and squalor run by criminals and the likes I expect. While my scouts are soldiers, they have little experience restraining humans and even less negotiating deals and evacuations. You must guide Miche through that bit of politics. I'm trusting you on this doctor. Find any remaining evacuees and secure Quinta."
Grisha swallowed as he looked on the flint-carved face of the 13th Commander of the Survey Corps.
"And you will take Eren with you I suppose?"
"Naturally, a two-headed strike."
Grisha disappeared downstairs without a word, rummaged in his room and returned with the newest addition to his collection in a glass vial.
"Then we might just need this." Like he expected, the glass had them thrown for a loop. With Erwin in the dark, he handed the vial to Eren. Who received it and lit up with a wide grin.
"Armor, eh?
A/N: Eren 'the Danger' Jaeger arrives!
Reviews, corrections and requests welcome as always!
Looking to that Bright Dawn