The Wings Of Our Dreams
Hello there, my dear readers! Time for yet another chapter of The Wings Of Our Dreams. Hope you enjoy!
Also, I give a shout-out to my good friend RememberShiganshina and his own AoT story 'Our Friend'. It's very good and I implore all of you to check it out.
Now to reviews.
RememberShiganshina: We all need a Moblit in our lives.
Lachie: Glad you like it. And yeah, there will be.
Guest: Good question. We'll have to see later.
Guest(2): Yes, I will be adapting that part.
22 Trust Shattered?
Year 850
Fifty-second entry
It's been a few days since that whole fiasco with those two Titans, Sawney, and Bean, and nobody was able to find out who killed them. From what I figured, none of the cadets were found guilty when their gear was checked, so I'm thankful for that at least.
It took a while for Hange to get over the deaths of those Titans but she's finally fine now since she still has Eren to experiment on. Her words, not mine. Hopefully, we get that Titan form of his under control soon. I really want to see my home again.
Damn, I'm getting impatient. I waited for five years, I can wait a few more weeks.
Still though, when it comes to castle life, it's, well…
"This place better be spotless when you're done, oversized brat!"
Collin groaned hearing Levi's voice from the other room before pulling down the mask from his face. "I swept this place several times already, Cap'n! Don't think it's gonna get any cleaner than this!"
"I'll be the judge of that!" Levi exclaimed. "The last time you cleaned you did an absolutely dreadful job. Yeager did better."
Sighing, Collin picked up the broom, the dustpan, and bucket before getting out of the room. He had been cleaning this floor for what seemed to be hours. Collin swore the short man was possessed by a cleaning demon if such a thing existed.
Collin still remembered Levi barging into his room and waking him up to say they had some cleaning to do. Hell of a wake-up call, in Collin's opinion.
"Had any problems here?"
Collin saw Eld walk up to him, with him also carrying the cleaning equipment.
"Eh, not really. Least 'til the Cap'n comes judgin' my work," Collin said before taking off the headscarf he wore and letting his long hair fall down. "Did y'all have any issues when it came to cleanin'?"
Eld chuckled. "Well, nothing you haven't experienced, I'm sure. Thought you should have seen Gunther's case," he said while pointing at his friend down the hall. "He did so bad of a job he got a pretty nasty scolding from the captain."
Gunther blushed before turning his gaze away. No doubt the moment was really embarrassing.
"Heh, must've been a sight," Collin commented with a smile.
"Yeah, it sure was."
"Okay, can you please drop the subject already?" Gunther said with an annoyed tone.
"Sorry, sorry," Eld said. "But it's just funny to remember."
Gunther just shook his head and grumbled something under his breath.
"Ya know, I gotta admit," Collin began. "I didn't think bein' stationed 'ere would be so, well… uneventful. Weren't we s'posed to help Eren get his Titan powers under control? We haven't been doin' much these past few days."
"Well, we probably would have started already if Hange wasn't so distraught by the death of her Titans," Eld explained. "Still, it shouldn't take long for us to get busy on the Titan stuff."
Collin noticed Eld's hand grip the broom he was holding a bit tighter. It seemed that they still weren't sure about this whole turn into a Titan ordeal.
"Right, so until that time, we gotta take cleanin' orders from a dwarf," Collin said with a grin. "I would've said it kept us from bein' bored, but it's gettin' kinda monotonous, ya know? Though I swear, with all the cleanin' we're doin', we're gonna start peelin' off layers from walls."
Whatever reaction Collin was expecting, it wasn't for Eld to suddenly stare with his eyes slightly wide and his lips in a thin line. Not to mention his pupils shifting from Collin to something beside him several times.
Raising an eyebrow, Collin turned around and almost immediately froze. Not too far away from him stood Captain Levi, who still held his usual annoyed look but with his gaze firmly on Collin. The large teen could feel the sweat already forming on his head.
'I really should keep my mouth shut once in a while,' Collin thought. "Um, so… Was the room cleaned well enough?"
"It was fine," Levi said, his tone flat. "There was actual improvement from before. Though it would seem you aren't that entertained by this work."
Collin silently gulped from the slight sarcasm in Levi's voice. He wondered what the captain had planned for him.
"So if you want to change pace," Levi said. "Go and make some tea."
Collin blinked. "Um… T-tea?"
"Yes, tea," Levi said with his arms crossed. "You do know what tea is, right?"
"Uh, yeah, I do, but… I never made tea before."
"Then you better hope that's it good. Now get to it!" Levi ordered
"Y-yes, sir!" Collin said before quickly departing, making sure to take the tools with him to place them away, otherwise, he knew Levi would be all over him if he didn't.
"And you two better get to it," Levi said, making Eld and Gunther flinch. "We still have some cleaning to do, so we better finish it."
"Okay, let's see if I got this right," Collin said as he took the tea kettle, and poured some tea into the cup. He grabbed the cup by the small handle and took a sip. "Hm, might need some more sugar."
Taking a small spoon, he scooped some sugar from a bowl on the table and mixed it into the tea. Collin took a sip of the tea again. "Better."
For the past half hour, he went over the instructions for tea, making sure the water wasn't boiled too much, getting the right amount of tea leaves, and filtering them out of the tea as well.
So far, the tea seemed pretty fine. Not too shabby for someone whose first time it was making tea. Though he shouldn't toot his own horn too much. There was still the issue of Captain Levi liking it.
"Hey, are you finally done?" And speak of the devil, Levi appeared in the kitchen before walking over to one of the tables and taking a seat. "I think you had enough time for something as simple as tea."
"Sorry, Cap'n. Wanted to make sure I got it right," Collin said before bringing a cup to Levi's table and seating himself in front of the short man.
Levi briefly looked at the cup before picking it up, and as always held the cup by the sides, and took a small drink. After putting the cup down, he stared at Collin with his usual expression for a few moments, making the large teen feel a bit nervous.
"This is not bad," Levi spoke before taking another sip. "Are you sure this is your first time making it?"
Collin internally breathed a sigh of relief before nodding. "I'm sure. I just went through the instructions."
"Well, I hope you liked making it because you'll be doing that more often," Levi said as he took another drink.
'Why did I have a feelin' he'd say that?' Collin thought.
"Also, regarding your comments from earlier," Levi said as he put the cup back on the table. "Hange is about to do some experimenting with Yeager. We'll have a briefing about it soon so you better join up."
"Right. Of course, sir."
"There's also something I'd like to ask you," Levi said, making Collin feel curious. "Listen, you are by no means a slouch when it comes to ODM skill. In fact, you likely match any member of my squad in that regard."
Collin grinned, feeling a bit more cheeky this time. "Wow, Cap'n. Didn't know ya thought so highly of me."
"I didn't finish," Levi said more sternly, much to Collin's light shock. "Tell me, if Yeager did end up going out of control, and either me or my team were unavailable…" Levi then turned his steeled gaze on Collin's eyes. "... would you be able to cut him down instead?"
Collin's eyes widened in shock. "W-wait a minute. Why'd ya ask me that? Why'd ya or your team be unavailable?"
"That's only a hypothetical situation. If for some reason the five of us aren't able to get there in time, or if we die, would you be able to cut Yeager down?"
Lips quivering and eyes unsettled on a single location, Collin's mind was somewhat sporadic when it came to thinking. How on Earth was he supposed to answer that? Was he supposed to say 'Killing my friend? Sure, I'd do it!'
Besides, he had faith in Eren. Sure, there was a mishap in Trost, but Eren came through in the end. He swore that almost nobody saw it that way.
"I… I honestly wouldn't want to," Collin finally answered.
"Hm, I see," Levi said calmly before taking another sip of tea as if he expected something like that. "Well, it's not really about the things we want, now is it? I asked if would you be able to do it if push comes to shove. That's what I want to know."
Collin bit his lip, and his grip on his legs tightened. "Cap'n, I… I'd wanna find any way around killin' 'im. But…" He took a small breath. "But if it comes to bein' capable… then… I could do it."
He wasn't proud of saying those words. Not one bit. But the question was if he could kill Eren, not if he wanted to. And when it came to capability, Collin was inclined to believe that he could do it. And not out of any sense of bragging, it just seemed plausible.
"Well, at least that's good to know," Levi said before finishing his tea. "Though you may not even need to kill him if he goes out of control."
"Huh?" Collin sounded as he looked at his captain confused.
"I'll tell you more at the briefing," Levi said before getting up. "So you better follow me."
"Good news, we may have a way of taking you down without killing you," Levi spoke to Eren who looked at him shocked.
In the briefing room, there was the entire Levi Squad as well as Eren, Collin, and Hange. Right now, Levi was standing in front of a chalkboard.
"We may have a way of stopping you in your Titan form without killing you," Levi said as he began drawing on the chalkboard. "Essentially, the method I came up with is that we cut we cut the entire nape with you inside it."
He finished drawing a very vague outline of a human before putting small lines that encompassed it safe for the arms and legs.
Collin leaned to Eld before whispering. "That's a terrible drawin'."
"Well, as long as it gets the point across," Eld said with a shrug.
"Depending on the individual's skill, the act would only have you mutilated," Levi explained as he made an outline that went across the shape's arms and legs. "You'd be without limbs, though you may be able to regrow them lizard-style. Creepy little bastard."
"Wait, hold on a sec," Eren said. "I'm not sure how they do it. I mean, they might but maybe it's not worth the risk that they won't."
Levi's eyes narrowed. "Oh, I see. So you're only up for this if there is no risk involved, is that it?"
Eren flinched before mumbling. "No."
"Then be prepared. We're on the same boat. If you go on a rampage you could kill us. So we're even."
"Yes, sir," Eren conceded, though he still had some sweat dripping down his head. "Seems perfectly fair to me."
"Just to be clear," Hange chimed in with her usual excitement. "I have the go-ahead, right?"
"Yes, we can't afford not to run tests," Levi answered. "So yes, you're good. Just try to keep from going rogue right out of the gate."
"Oh, not to worry," Hange said with a glint in her eyes. "I have a plan."
"So, um," Collin said as Hange approached on her horse. "How the hell's puttin' Eren in a well gonna help us any?"
Hange chuckled. "Simple. Since he's gonna be in a confined space then he will be pretty much stuck, so if he ever gets out of control there won't be much he could do. A perfect plan."
Collin gazed at the stone well that was located in the middle of a field not too far from the castle. The plan seemed simple but efficient. Put Eren in the well, he transforms, and if he gets out of control there's nothing he could do.
Adjusting himself on his black stallion, Collin looked at Team Levi who focused their gazes on the well, no doubt ready for action if anything went wrong. Honestly, Collin was feeling relieved about these circumstances. They definitely allowed Eren to stay alive.
Though it still made him wonder why Levi asked him about killing Eren. Was that some sort of test? Was Levi just curious? It was really hard to tell with that man.
"All right, I'm firing the smoke signal," Hange said before taking out her signal gun and firing a green trail of smoke in the air. "Now let's watch the magic happen," she said with a grin.
"Yeah, magic. Right," Levi said unimpressed.
Everyone stood ready to see the transformation. They expected some sort of explosion to come out of the well, and a giant Titan to appear any second. However, those seconds quickly turned to a minute, and then several minutes and… nothing. Nothing was happening.
"That's weird," Hange said. "Did he miss the signal?"
"Or maybe we were just too naïve to think he could control it so easily," Levi said.
"Weird, he didn't seem to have problems before," Collin said. "When I saw 'im transform he didn't seem to have any issues doin' it."
Levi's eyes narrowed slightly before he began trotting over on his horse. Collin, deciding to see if he friend was okay, followed Levi's lead along with Hange.
When they got close, they dismounted their horses and walked over to the well.
"Eren, that's enough! You can get out now!" Levi said.
"Hey, did something go wrong down there!" Hange called out as the three of them quickly leaned over the well's opening, with Hange and Collin gasping while Levi's eyes just twitched.
"Oh, hell," Collin said when he saw Eren's state.
There was some blood pouring out of his mouth, and his hands were bleeding from several bite marks on them.
"I'm sorry," Eren said, his voice somewhat on edge. "I… I don't think I can do it now."
"Ah, damn it," Collin said before jumping over the edge and falling inside, shocking Eren.
"W-what are you doing?" Eren asked.
"Ya ain't climbin' up with your hands the way they are," Collin said before kneeling down and presenting his back. "Now get on."
"B-but…"
"Eren, get on, please," Collin insisted.
Eren's voice trembled for a bit before he clenched his teeth and looked down in shame. He walked over and wrapped his bloody hands around Collin's neck, making the large teen rise and grab unto the ladder that was put in the well.
"Don't ya worry, we'll get ya patched up," Collin assured as he began climbing out with Eren on his back.
Sometime later, Eren's hands were now bandaged as Levi, Collin, and Hange gathered around him.
"I'm so sorry," Eren said as he looked at his bandaged hands. "I didn't manage to transform."
"Hey, don't be sad," Hange said. "I could see that you were really trying your best. There must have been a reason why it didn't happen.
"Tell me, the first transformation happened when you were in the Titan's stomach. The second happened when you were targeted by the Garrison's cannons. And the third…"
"…to move the giant so I could seal the Wall," Eren finished.
Hange brought her fingers to her chin in thought. "There must be some common thread in those instances," she said before looking at Collin. "Tell me, do you have any ideas what it could be, Collin? You were there in person."
"A common thread?" Collin wondered while scratching his head. 'Man, what could it 'ave been? Bein' surrounded by Titans? Nah, that was only true for the first time he did so. For the other two, there weren't any. So what is it?' After thinking about it for a few more moments, Collin finally spoke. "It could've been 'cause his life was in danger."
"I thought something similar as well," Hange said. "Maybe some sort of crisis or threat is necessary. Some testing should be done outside the Walls."
"Are you serious about this, Hange?" Levi asked.
"It is a very risky move to be sure, deliberately attracting Titans to provoke Eren's transformation," Hange answered. "But it would be the fastest way to get results."
"We'd still need permission from Erwin," Levi said as he crossed his arms. "There's no way we can decide on that type of test on our own."
"If the Commander wants to prove Eren's usefulness by having a successful expedition beyond the Walls, then we'll have to get Eren to transform," Hange explained. "If we don't, then we lose in every possible way. This experiment HAS to happen.
"I'll contact him as soon as I can, and by tomorrow, we should have the approval," Hange said. "So you better prepare for it, Eren. You as well, Collin."
"Yes, Section Commander," Collin said.
"Understood," Eren said with a more determined look. "I won't let you down this time."
The next day came all too quickly, and before noon they received Erwin's approval for this experiment, even if he was pretty reluctant to actually let it happen. But in the end, he saw its necessity if they wanted to succeed.
They mounted as quickly as they could and ventured outside Wall Rose, with the Levi Squad gathering some Titans for the test. The idea was that Eren would use the ODM gear to move around while some Titans chased after him. Several Scouts would follow and make sure that Eren isn't actually killed by the Titans as they chase him.
That experiment already lasted for over an hour, with Eren having some close calls with the Titans, but so far no results.
"Come on, come on!" Eren exclaimed as he looked at his bandaged hand with a twelve-meter Titan running behind him while he zipped across some abandoned buildings. "Transform, dammit!"
The Titan then lunged at him, its oversized maws open wide and dripping with saliva. Eren's eyes widened as he saw the Titan get dangerously close.
"Gotcha!" Collin exclaimed as he quickly zipped over, and snatched Eren out of the air just as the Titan clamped its mouth shut. Eld quickly came swinging by and sliced the nape of the twelve-meter, killing it.
Collin and Eren quickly landed down as they looked at the steaming corpse of the twelve-meter.
"Well, looks like that one's a bust as well," Collin commented.
Eren shut his eyes tight and groaned in frustration, with his hands hurting the moment he started clenching them but he didn't care.
Collin saw the bandages beginning to bleed again. "Whoa, whoa, Eren, calm down."
"I'm sorry," Eren said after taking a breath. "I just…" He brought his hand up. "I don't know why this is happening."
"That's enough," Levi said while he approached with his squad, Hange, and Moblit. "We've cleared out all the Titans in the area. It's over."
"What?!" Hange exclaimed. "But Eren still hasn't transformed yet!"
Levi scoffed before turning to Eren. "And what's with you? Those hands still aren't healing?"
Eren shook his head. "No, sir. I… I don't know why."
"But this doesn't make sense," Hange said. "This was a perfect setting for a life-threatening experience. Hmm, maybe we should mix things up next time. But for now, it looks like my theory was wrong."
"But… if we can't get Eren to transform outside the Walls," Moblit began. "Then we would just be back where we started."
Eren frustratingly grasped his head. "God, I feel so useless!" he exclaimed before walking away from the group.
Hange sighed. "Well… let's call it a day for now. Moblit and I will write all this up and catch you later."
"I'll go with Squad Miche and scout for any Titans," Levi said. "Better behave yourselves while I'm gone." And with a quick trigger, he was away.
"I'm gonna go see how Eren is," Collin said. "'Sides, those bandages need changin'."
"You go do that, he does need a friend now," Hange said.
With a nod, Collin departed the group and headed in Eren's direction. He saw him standing near a clearing, arms hanging at his dies while Eren just stood there unmoving with his head hung.
"Hey, Eren," Collin said as he approached his friend.
Eren just gave him a dejected look before glancing back to the ground.
Collin lifted a bandage roll. "I… got ya somethin' for that," he said as he pointed at Eren's bleeding wraps.
Eren stood silently for a few moments before replying in a barely audible tone. "Thanks."
Sighing softly, Collin patted Eren on the shoulder. "Hey, hey, don't worry. You'll do better next time."
Eren only bit his lip in response.
"C'mon, let's get ya patched up," Collin said while grasping Eren's arm.
"Thanks, but…" Eren said as he pulled his hand away. "I'll do it myself." He then snatched the bandage roll out of Collin's hand but made the mistake of using his hurt arm. Pain flared in his hand, making Eren grunt, and the bandages to fall on the grass.
"Eren, please, don' be like that," Collin said.
"I said I'm fine!" Eren insisted as he leaned down and grabbed the bandages. "I can-"
Eren's hand was suddenly enveloped in yellow electricity before a large explosion appeared, knocking Collin back with a yelp as he landed on his back.
Groaning, Collin took a seating position and rubbed his head. "The hell just-?"
Collin's eyes widened when he saw Eren's state when the large cloud of dust cleared. He was standing on half a giant ribcage with his arm encased in the partially formed Titan arm.
"C-Collin!" Eren exclaimed as he tried pulling his arm out. "Ah, I… I'm sorry! I-I don't know what happened!"
Collin stared for a few moments before blinking his shock away. "O-okay. Just… Just calm down," he said as he rose. "Well, uh… It… It looks like-"
"Get away from him!"
Flinching at the sound of Eld's voice, Collin turned around and saw the Levi Squad behind him, all of them with their swords drawn.
'Oh this ain't good,' Collin thought as he saw them glaring heavily at Eren.
"Eren, what the hell do you think you're doing?!" Eld demanded angrily.
Eren flinched at the man's tone. "Sir, please-"
"No one gave you permission to transform, did they?!" Eld interrupted.
Collin brought his hands up. "Whoa, whoa, guys, calm do-"
"Answer the question!" Oruo yelled. "What has come over you?!"
"Collin, step away from him!" Petra exclaimed. "Come on, you're standing too close!"
"Leave it! Explanations can come later!" Gunther said as he moved closer to Eren's side. "First off, you have to persuade us you're not hostile like your life depends on it!"
"Hey, listen!" Collin said. "It was only an acci-!"
"Prove it or we kill you!" Gunther continued. "The burden of proof is on you, kid!"
"So much as twitch your arm and I'll lob your head off!" Oruo said. "This is your first and only warning! I can end you in a heartbeat, do you understand me, boy?!"
Eren gasped as he listened to all their threats while Collin began glaring at them. 'The hell's wrong with 'em? Why aren't they listenin'?' Collin thought as he swore he saw the hostility in their eyes increase. "For God's sake, I'm tellin' ya-!"
"Eren, better say something!" Eld demanded.
Eren's lips trembled. "I-I don't-"
"Don't try anything cute!" Oruo said as he took a step closer.
"Prove you're not hostile!" Eld yelled.
Collin began clenching his teeth heavily while his brown eyes glared between the members of Team Levi. These guys weren't listening even when they demanded it.
"Eren, we're serious!" Gunther exclaimed as he moved closer with his blades. "Do you want to di-?!"
Suddenly, Collin appeared in front of Gunther, catching the veteran Scout by surprise. What shocked him further was Collin's fist hitting him straight in the face, and sending Gunther to the ground face-first.
Everyone stopped whatever they were doing to look at the scene in shock.
"Collin?" Eren spoke. "W-what are you…?"
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Eld interrupted as he glared at Collin this time.
Collin just yelled before taking out one of his blades and swinging it at Eld's own. Levi's second-in-command went to block the strike but the force behind it surprised him as he found himself quickly disarmed. The capitalize on the surprise, Collin quickly planted the sole of his boot into Eld's stomach, making him double over from the pain.
Oruo groaned. "Hey, how dare you-?!"
"Get away! Get the fuck away!" Collin yelled as he swung his sword in front of him, making Oruo take several steps back from him and Eren.
"Collin, what are you doing?!" Petra asked, still shocked at what just happened.
"Savin' my friend from a bunch of morons from the looks of it!" Collin answered.
"You defend Eren after what you've seen him do?!" Oruo asked as he now glared at Collin.
"We tried tellin' ya, but ya wouldn't listen!" Collin said before taking out his other blade. "I'm just speakin' your language."
"Do you want to die as well, kid?!" Oruo said. "Don't think your lucky shots mean anything! We're still the elite Titan slayers while you're nothing but a greenhorn! We can still cut you do-!"
"Will ya shut up already, ya arrogant prick?!" Collin interrupted as he glared back, the silver shine in his eyes increasing and making Oruo flinch. "I don't give a fuck what title ya have! You come any closer, and I swear your head'll be the one gettin' lobbed off!"
"Collin, stop!" Eren called out, trying even harder to get his arm out. "Don't fight them!"
"If they wanna kill ya, they better be prepared for a fight," Collin said.
Eld groaned as he slowly rose, one of his arms nursing his stomach area. He opened one of his eyes with some effort and saw that Gunther was holding unto his nose which bled heavily. "Do you…?" Eld spoke to Collin in a voice strained from pain. "Do you have any-?"
"Shut up!" Collin interrupted. "Ya didn't give us a chance to talk so ya don't get one either!"
"Y-You're insane!" Oruo yelled.
"I ain' the one tryin' to kill an ally!"
Petra blinked. "But, didn't you see-?"
"Yeah, I did! I saw directly what happened but none of y'all seemed to care when Eren or I tried explainin'!"
"ENOUGH!"
Levi's voice made everyone freeze in their place. The short captain appeared and walked in front of Collin.
"Cap'n, they ju-"
Collin didn't get to finish before Levi slammed his elbow into Collin's stomach, making the large teen grunt in pain, and then kick his legs, with Collin falling down to the ground.
"Apparently most of the brain cells you possess went into your growth hormone," Levi as he looked at the downed Collin. "What the hell were you thinking by attacking your superior officers?"
"What… was I thinkin'?" Collin said as he slowly got up, making Levi raise an eyebrow as he didn't expect him to recover so soon. "Well, unlike your team, 'least I was thinkin'."
"What did you just say?!" Oruo angrily asked. "I'm gonna carve you and that Titan brat!"
"Stop it, Oruo!" Levi ordered with Oruo flinching back. "All of you better stop it. You're the ones who need to stay away from Eren," he said while taking out his blades. "Because right now we have bigger problems."
Levi's gaze turned to look at something behind them, making the others look as well. All of them held a look of absolute shock at what they saw.
An entire horde of Titans was quickly moving towards their location.
"Our priority is now taking care of them," Levi said before turning to the rest. "Can you all fight?"
"Don't worry, Captain," Eld said as he rose. "I can-" A sudden influx of pain interrupted him as he groaned and grabbed his stomach.
"I'll take that as a no," Levi concluded. "You stay here. What about you, Gunther?"
Gunther was back on his feet as he put his nose into place. "I can go, Captain Levi."
Levi nodded and turned to Collin. "And it looks like you're fine to fight as well."
"Yeah, I can," Collin said while ignoring the sting on his stomach. 'Man, what's with short people knockin' me on my ass?'
"Good. Let's go," Levi said before firing his cable and zipping off, with everyone besides Eren and Eld following.
The jaws of death were upon them again.
AN: And that's it for now, my dear readers! I honestly wanted to write more but I thought the chapter was getting long enough, so the fight with the Titans will happen in the next chapter. I hope you don't mind.
Once again, I implore you to check out my other stories. Trust me, they're worth it. And leave a review, they are great motivators.
To remind you, I hope you go check out RememberShiganshina, and his story 'Our Friend'.
See ya next time!
