Chapter 6: The Lizard People

Disclaimer: I do not own Shingeki no Kyojin

Previously: Eren decides to stay with Squad Levi. But he demands payment in pudding and letters to his friends. Levi's unsure but Erwin tells him to deal with it. Eren meets his new squad.


Eren watched Hange and Mike leave with some dread. The lady was kinda insane and the guy had a strange habit but they were familiar faces, people he had grown comfortable with. Eren turned back to his new team. The tall blond-haired man, Eld, seemed okay. It was hard to tell with Gunther and he didn't care much for Oluo with his stupid face. It didn't help the man's case that his haircut and cravat reminded him of Levi. Petra seems nice, though.

"Eren," the redhead called him over. "Come and meet your horse."

Her sweet smile and warm tone put him at ease. "My own horse? Really?" Eren joined her, standing before the tall, intelligent animal. "What's his name?" He touched the horse's neck, amazed by the feeling of muscles under the hair. It felt powerful.

"Her," Petra corrected.

"Uh, right."

"We have more horses than we do soldiers," Eld told him. "And it would be impossible to remember all their names so the owner picks one."

Eren was absolutely delighted. His own horse and he could name her, too. Her hair was a dark brown in color. Too dark to be named The Khaleesi. Something else popped up in his head and his mind was made. "Lamborghini Murcielago. But on expeditions, she'll be called The Batmobile. Or is that too much and I should just stick with The Batmobile?"

"Batmobile?" Gunther repeated.

"The Batmobile."

Oluo scoffed, arms crossed. "What kind of name is The Batmobile?"

"What kind of name is Oreo?" Eren purposefully mispronounced it.

"It's Oluo."

"Oulo?" Eren blinked innocently while the rest of the squad snickered. "Was that your first word? Is that what your parents named you after?" He gave the spluttering man a pitying look.

Oluo's face turned red and Eld slapped Eren's back, laughing. "I like him!"

"Since you've all met, let's go." Levi's voice came from behind. Eren turned to see their captain on his horse, ready to leave. "We have a long ride ahead of us."

Eren copied their actions and mounted his horse. Once again, his body knew what to do. Levi took the lead and they all followed him, except for Eren. The Batmobile didn't move. Shit! His body may know what to do but his mind needed to know first so he could get started. Without thinking, he yanked the reins. The Batmobile suddenly took off.

Fortunately, his instincts took over and he was able to control his horse and keep up with his squad as they raced away.


Eren spent most of the ride admiring the scenery. There was plenty of greenery in his city. Still, it was a big place and most of it was a concrete jungle. It was nothing compared to the lush green fields, the tall, healthy trees, and the fresh clean air he was surrounded by here and now. It was peaceful and he enjoyed his first time riding on a horse under the warm sun. He had always wanted to learn how to drive a motorcycle and he imagined that was how it felt. It's the closest I'll get anytime soon.

As fun as flying with the 3D gear had been, he liked the ground better. Gives me time to enjoy the scenery. Half his focus wasn't on trying not to go splat against a building. And he liked having more than a second to admire the view. .

They slowed down as they neared their destination, allowing them to chat with each other.

"The former Survey Corps headquarters." Oluo took it upon himself to fill him in. "It's nothing more than a renovated old castle. Though it looks impressive—"

"Does it? Looks shabby and rundown to me." Eren and his family loved traveling. Compared to all the amazing feats of architecture he'd seen around the world, the old castle was a poor sight to behold. He knew it wasn't fair, comparing the generic castle against feats of architectural genius and beauty he had seen all over the globe. But he had found the one squadmate he would enjoy poking fun at and annoying the most and he wasn't about to let it go.

Oluo took the opportunity to try and intimidate him. "Don't get cocky, brat."

"Why not? I came back from the dead I'll have you know." He knew they would assume he was referring to being eaten by a Titan so it wasn't breaching the confidentiality order. His eyes widened. "I'm a zombie!" Eren examined himself. "I don't feel the urge to munch on brains."

"Eren?" Gunther observed him curiously. "Everything alright?"

"What's a zombie?" Eld asked.

"Will you do me a favor? If I ever get pale as a corpse, my eyes become red, and I start frothing at the mouth, growling incoherently, shoot me in the head, okay?"

"That sounds like something out of a penny dreadful," Petra said.

"There's nothing wrong with being careful," Eren said solemnly. "You're very pretty and nice. I like you. So just throw Oreo my way and get away if that happens."

"Hey," Oluo began in protest.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine. Zombies like to snack on brains."

Eld, Gunther, and Petra laughed.

"Why you annoying little brat!" Oluo leaned in. "I don't know the deal with this crap about you being a Titan, but we can't have Captain Levi—" The rest of his sentence was left unfinished when he accidentally bit his tongue.

Eren burst out into laughter. "You're so lame!"

The last stretch was spent in enjoyable silence with Eren grinning widely and Oluo sulking, while the other members of the Special Ops Squad looked on amused. Levi had yet to say a word. Eren wondered if the man intended to apologize once they reached the castle and the two of them were away from the rest of their team. Squad Levi didn't know and he doubted Levi wanted them to know he had killed him by accident.

Eren had been staring at the back of the man's head when Petra approached Levi and Levi moved his head slightly to look at her.

And it hit Eren. He remembered where he knew the hobbit from.

Holy motherfucking shit. His jaw was hanging open. He closed it before the men noticed and wiped the shocked look off his face. Back home, Eren had seen Levi—and Petra—once and from a distance. The parent-teacher conference! Armin's parents were on a business trip and his grandfather had been sick so Eren's mom had come in their place. The conferences were held by alphabetical order of last name. Eren's turn wasn't until the end but he had hung around in the back of the classroom while he waited for Armin and his mom to finish talking to Mr. Hannes. From the two-story window, he had noticed Mikasa leaving with a man and a woman.

Why is he such a midget here? Eren thought, stunned. It had been evening back then and he had only glimpsed them for a few seconds before they got into their car and left. The time of day coupled with this world's Levi's lack of height, and the undercut that his modern version did not have, had thrown him off. No wonder he looked so familiar!

Eren's eyes went to Petra's hair. As per military protocol, it had to be either pulled back or cut until it stopped around her chin. Back home, he had seen the backs of their heads and her shoulder-length hair had blocked Eren's view of her face completely, leaving him to only catch Levi's profile when the man turned to her.

Seeing it happen just now brought it back. Does that mean—no, of course, they're related! It's genetics! DNA didn't change like personalities.

He couldn't believe it. The hobbit is Mikasa's cousin. The one she came to live with after her parents had passed away. Were they killed, too, in his world, he suddenly wondered. It put his crush under a whole new light.


On the castle grounds, Eren petted The Batmobile in deep thought. I can't believe the angry hobbit and my beautiful Mikasa are family.

He felt bad. She hated Levi. Now she definitely can't know about what happened. Levi was likely her only blood relative. Back home, Eren had heard her mention her cousin before and it seemed like they had a good relationship. And I don't want her to go around carrying hate in her heart if I can help it. He would at least get her to be civil toward Levi. If Levi proved himself not be an asshole, that was.

Eren turned his attention to his squad. Information about them appeared in his mind. So cool, he thought, mentally pulling up their stats. If only they would agree to change their name to the Avengers. Maybe they'd like the Defenders better. He went over to harass them into it when Levi came up and began giving out orders. Is he fucking serious? Cleaning his room was his least favorite chore. And they had to clean the entire castle. Not cool. Sullenly, he went to work.

Is he ever going to talk to me? Eren walked down the stairs after finishing cleaning his assigned room. Levi had yet to apologize. Was he waiting until evening? Eren walked through the open door. Levi was the only one in the room but Eren knew Petra wasn't far behind so he couldn't say anything for now.

"The upper floors are done," Eren told him. "Where am I going to sleep, sir?" He kept his tone neutral.

"The basement."

"Again? Why?"

"You're not in complete control of yourself."

Eren flinched, remembering the trial.

"If you drifted off and turned into a Titan, at least if you're underground we can restrain you right away. That was one of the conditions agreed upon for..."

That's right. Eren thought, not paying attention to what Levi was saying. They don't know I know how to transform by will and the requirements. He couldn't show perfect control over his Titan without his claim of not remembering about where his Titan powers came from coming under suspicion. I'm gonna have to nerf myself.

"You do this room." Levi brushed past Eren before he had a chance to speak.

"But—" Eren turned.

Levi was already gone. Petra appeared seconds after he left. "You have a despairing look on your face, Eren."

"Captain Levi told me to clean this room, too," he whined. "I hate cleaning the house! I'd rather do the laundry or wash dishes or cook!"

Petra studied him. "You're not surprised by Captain Levi, are you?"

"No. He knocked my tooth out at the trial, the damn hobbit."

"Really?" Petra looked startled. It was clearly news to her. "I heard we had to use an unorthodox method to get you, but..."

"No worries," Eren threw in hastily. "It grew back quickly. And I understand why that was necessary. Just wish he'd held back a little." He didn't want to be responsible for fracturing their relationship and having to repair it along with trying to clear the hostility Mikasa already held toward Levi.

"I'm sure he had his reasons and was only following orders, so it wasn't personal," Petra assured him. She paused and said, "I'm not surprised but people often are. Levi doesn't come off as the perfect, invulnerable hero they expect him to be. The true Levi is surprisingly short, irritable, violent, and hard to approach."

"You seem to accept all his traits, some of which people might consider negative," Eren said and she shrugged. "What did surprise me about him is how willing he is to follow orders. I thought he wouldn't really care about the chain of command and all that. If I had his position I'd be such a pain in the ass. They'd probably demote me within the week."

Petra chuckled. "Well, I don't know all the details myself but I heard he was like that originally. Before he joined the Survey Corps he was a famous thug in the capital's underground."

Information about the place trickled in and Eren wondered if growing up in such an environment had had a detrimental effect on Levi's growth. It would explain why his other version wasn't a midget. That Levi probably didn't grow up in poverty. And it would also explain why the he and Mikasa here didn't know each other. Because Levi grew up below the capital, behind the innermost Wall, while she had spent most of her life living at the edge of the Walls.


Squad Levi was sitting together later that evening, Levi at the head of the table with Petra and Eren on one side and the three men across from them. They were talking about the expedition. It sounded serious. But Eren had other concerns. It's gonna be so fucking cold in the basement. How did they expect him to get a good night's sleep down there in the creepy cell?

Eren blinked, noticing all the eyes on him. "What?" He rubbed his cheek. "Is there something on my face?"

Gunther crossed his arms. "Weren't you listening?"

"Uh, no?" Eren admitted sheepishly. "I was thinking about how it's gonna suck sleeping in that creepy, cold basement."

"I can bring you some extra blankets," Petra offered kindly.

Eren perked up. "You're my favorite person in the squad! Sorry, Oreo, I know you were vying hard for that position."

That earned him a glare from Oluo and chuckles from the others.

"I was asking what exactly turning into a Titan meant," Eld repeated for him.

Levi looked like he was going to answer but Eren started talking over him. "Turning into a Titan? Simple. There's this explosion of light, and flesh starts growing and wraps around me, and two seconds later, voila! One 15-meter Titan at your service."

Before anyone had a chance to reply, there was a loud bang at the door.

"What was that?" Eren asked, jumping in his spot.

They heard Hange's voice from the other side.

Eren's eyes were wide. "It's the cross-carrying crazy lady Marta. Pretend we're not here and she'll leave," he whispered. "No! Come back, Petra!" He reached out as she stood up and went to open the door with an amused smile and a shake of her head.

Hange came in, grinning widely.

"And you're dead," he told Petra.

"What are you—"

"You're early," Levi interrupted Hange.

"How could I stay put?" Hange turned to Eren. "Sorry for the wait, Eren. I'm charged with experimenting on the two Titans we caught alive in the city. I want you to help me out with tomorrow's experiment. I came to ask permission for that."

"An experiment? What am I supposed to—"

"What else but that totally awesome thing that you do!"

"Who told you I can balance a spoon on my nose?" Eren reached for a spoon. "I'm not sure how that'll help your experiment but the trick is—"

"Quit fooling around, Eren," Gunther chided him.

Eren shrugged and said to Hange. "Look, I'd like to help, really, but I can't tomorrow. I have to rid the courtyard of the bastard weeds. Gotta rip them all out of their roots. Every last one of them." Eren couldn't describe it, but he felt it, he sensed Eren II's irritation. He was less than pleased at being subtly mocked.

"Gardening?" Hange looked at Levi. "That's what he's doing? My experiment definitely takes precedence, then!"

What kind of weird-ass shit is she gonna make me do? Eren thought.

"Eren, do you wanna know about my experiment?" Hange asked innocently.

He opened his mouth, then noticed the expressions on the faces of the men sitting across from him. "Nah, I'm good."

The scientist's face fell. "No? Are you sure?"

"Yup. In fact, I have to get extra blankets for the freezing basement with Petra because she's my favorite!" Eren grinned at her. "Your husband is so lucky to have you," he blurted out, glancing at Levi, who was holding a teacup, now frozen halfway to his mouth. He couldn't remember if they were married or dating in his world. I hope I didn't scare her with that.

"Actually—" Petra began.

"That's what the guards said," he said quickly. When in doubt, blame the Military Police. "The soldiers that guarded me before the trial got bored and gossiped a lot. Seaman and Marmaduke were talking once about how they couldn't understand how such a beautiful woman like you ended up with that short, ugly Captain Sourpuss. Their words, not mine." Now he was just making shit up to insult Levi in front of them without getting in trouble.

"They're not married!" Oluo said, looking miffed. "It would be against the rules because of their different ranks and—"

"I know. But they were gossiping and I was bored so I assumed that's what they meant. Honest mistake," Eren said, holding up his hands. On purpose.

Petra shook her head, blushing lightly. "No, there's nothing between us."

Eren looked around and stood up. "Now that I've made the atmosphere awkward and uncomfortable—this time purely by accident—should we go get those blankets?" He turned to Petra. She didn't have to be asked twice and they fled together.

"Are you comfortable, Eren?"

"Comfortable as I can be," he responded, eyeing his new living quarters.

"I'll see you in the morning," Petra said from the other side of the bars. "Goodnight."

Eren observed the cell. Small, dark, musty. It reminded him too much of the place where his mind had started to crack. With a sigh, he removed the standard blanket provided to all soldiers and unfolded the much thicker and nicer one that Petra had given him. He'd exaggerated. The temperature wasn't that terrible that he needed two layers. He just liked to complain.

There was a sweet and distinctively feminine smell coming from the blanket. It smells like Petra, he thought happily, wrapping himself up in the warmth and softness, relaxing and falling into deep slumber.


Eren was sleeping deeply and peacefully. Until a voice interrupted his lovely slumber. Eyes still closed and brows knitted in annoyance, he turned over, covering his face, groaning. He heard the door creak open but he didn't care. Someone was speaking again in a rough voice but he was already almost back asleep. It was quiet and tranquil again.

Then the tugging began. He felt a hand gently shake his shoulder, a soft voice telling him it was time to get up.

"No, Mom. Five more minutes."

Surprisingly, the hand disappeared.

What now? Eren groaned internally, feeling the shaking again. He opened his tired eyes, sitting up.

"Good, you're awake." Petra stood by his cot. "I gave you your five minutes, now why don't you—"

Eren felt gravity pull him back and he closed his eyes.

"No! Eren, let's not do this today, too." She shook him again. "C'mon, you have to get up. Otherwise, Captain Levi will come down here."

Like I'm scared of that dickwad. Still, he opened his eyes unhappily. Whimpering pathetically and making sounds of misery, he began to kick the blanket off. It was still difficult for him to wake up at a decent hour. Before, he had been able to sleep in as much as he wanted. His internal clock was still messed up because of it. Eren yawned.

Petra grabbed him tightly to keep him from crawling back under the blanket. "You're not going back to sleep. Let's get you cleaned up."


Eren yawned loudly for the third time within the past few minutes, wiping the water in his eyes. "I'd kill for a cup of coffee right now." His stomach growled. "And a buttery croissant breakfast sandwich."

"Here you go." Petra placed a bowl before him.

He stared into the lumpy oatmeal and felt the urge to cry. I miss Mom's cooking. Petra sat next to him, a bowl of the same slop in hand. "You haven't eaten yet?" Eren asked.

"I thought you shouldn't eat alone."

She's like Mom. He smiled. His mother also didn't touch a bite until everyone else had food on their plates. They had just finished eating when Levi approached them. Oh look, he's actually looking me in the eye. It was only for a second. Spoke too soon.

"Let's go," Levi said to Petra. "Someone killed Sonny and Bean."

"What?!"

"No way! It can't be!" Eren gasped. Then: "Who're Sonny and Bean again?"

"The two Titans Hange has been experimenting on," Petra answered, confused that he didn't know.

"I kinda tune her out when she starts rambling."

"Put this cloak on." Levi tossed it to Eren. "And cover your head."

Eren pulled it on. "I wonder what people will think when they see me." He crossed one arm, resting his other elbow against it, tapping his chin. "Gee, I wonder who that guy with Squad Levi is. He doesn't stand out at all on this beautiful sunny day wearing his hood."

"Must you always reply with sarcasm?" Levi asked tiredly.

"When stupid people say dumb things, yeah, I feel it is my moral obligation to mock them." Eren saw Petra's eyes go wide in disbelief at his crappy attitude. He had spoken out against authority figures before. Levi couldn't have been shocked, really. "Are you coming, Petra?" Eren started to walk away.

Her eyes flickered between him and their silent captain. "I have to grab my cloak first."

"I'll see you outside," he said and left.

Fucking bastard. Eren cursed, scowling as he soon as he was out of sight, mind raging on Levi. It had been days since he joined the squad and not once had Levi approached him to apologize. Granted, Eren had accepted it was an accident and he was at fault, too. But Levi had still beat him to a point where one depressing, heartbreaking thought was all it had taken for his heart to give out. I fucking died. But has he shown a hint of remorse? Nope.

Any decent person would be on their knees, begging for forgiveness. All Eren wanted were two words said with sincerity: I'm sorry. He thought about Petra's words about Levi's criminal past. Leopards don't change their spots.

Forget being nice, Levi couldn't even be civil to him. He barely even acknowledged Eren's existence. The only time he looked at him was to order him to clean this or practice that with the same bland expression never leaving his stupid, ugly face.

If he wants to continue being an asswipe, fine. I'll treat him like a douchebag instead of my superior. Eren swore angrily.

The squad discussed who Sonny and Bean's killers could be on their way to where the two Titans had been kept.

Hange let out a wail and fell to the ground.

"This is just sad," Eren said pityingly, watching Hange sob over what was left of the two Titans. Oluo mocked her distress and, to Eren's amusement, Petra elbowed him sharply. Eren wondered why they were there at all. Like Captain Fuckface said, it's the jurisdiction of the Military Police.

Before he could leave, Erwin leaned in. "What do you see there?"

"A steaming pile of crap," he replied bluntly.

The commander paused. "Who do you think is the enemy?"

"The lizard people?" Eren guessed without thinking. "Yeah, that's right." He nodded. "It's the lizard people."

Erwin was silent for a few seconds. "Sorry, don't mind me." He walked away.

Was it something I said?


References

The Khaleesi — Equivalent meaning is "the queen" in Dothraki, Game of Thrones

Marta — Crazy, giant cross-carrying woman from PC horror game Outlast 2

Lizard people — Reptilian humanoids common in fantasy series. Conspiracy theorists also believe they are trying to control the Earth through politics


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