Chapter 1: Something Doesn't Belong
The morning was still over the Scout Regiment Headquarters. The only visible movement coming from the scene being the sway of leaves in the wind. The gentle breeze of a calm morning stirring the trees only a bit. The little calm that was available to the scouts was their rest. This morning being one of those rests. Though the day would return them all to the worry and energy of preparing for the 57th expedition beyond the walls. For now though, as the sun slowly rises over Wall Rose, they have some brief respite from their terrifying lives of cat and mouse against the titans.
However, not everyone has a nice morning. Some are less fortunate when it comes to waking up. Eren Yaeger would open his eyes to darkness. Were he not fully awake he would likely have thought his eyes were still close. The dungeon didn't offer much in the way of lighting. Sadly for him though, as his titan abilities are still untrustworthy, he is required to sleep in the cold dark of the basement. It makes little sense really, all evidence points out that he wouldn't be able to just awaken in the middle of the night and become a titan. Though the agreement for his release required it nonetheless. Eren wasn't about to argue with corporal Levi or commander Erwin on the subject so no point in moping over it.
Begrudgingly, and rather slowly, Eren rose from his bed. His eyes adjusting to the dark room a bit. Room, though, would be a bit nice of a term for a cell with a bed. The little light that he did have was in the torch just outside his cell. Which was fine as a night light, not as a wake up call. His eyes drifted to his clothing resting on a chair next to his bed, and quickly he put them on. The grey shirt, grey pants and the scouting legion jacket that nearly all scouting legion members wear. Then he sat to fit his boots on, after that he left the cell and made his way up to join his squad for the morning's meal.
His mind wasn't fully present though. Hardly ever was to begin with in all fairness. Though his thoughts have been on the upcoming expedition beyond the wall. It was still a couple weeks away, so it was hardly something to lose sleep over. Yet he still found his mind wandering to it. The importance of the mission for ensuring that he doesn't get handed over to the military police. He felt that the commander wouldn't allow that to happen so easily though, which was some comfort, though it would make everyone's lives incredibly easier if he just got this mission right the first time.
After some time of walking he would come to the double door into the Levi squad's meeting room. He reached out to grab the handle only for it to open from the inside, revealing Corporal Levi at the door. An expression of shock to see Yaeger on the other side.
"Corporal Levi!" Eren spoke out quickly upon seeing his squad leader, quickly standing at attention. "I'm sorry if I'm late sir! I just woke up and-"
"Stuff it." Levi interrupts him before he can get any more words out. "You're not late. Early as hell if anything. I was on my way to get you to make sure you won't be late, evidently that's unnecessary now." The corporal's voice dry and uninterested as always. He opens the door all the way and returns to his seat at the head of the table, when Eren can fully take in the room, he finds nobody else is there yet.
"Oh," is all he can manage as he follows Levi into the room, closing the door behind him. Levi in his usual attire, unsurprisingly. On the table is a basket of bread, and tea set out for all the members of the team when they arrive. "You've been busy, huh corporal?" Eren asked, attempting to make small talk with his squad leader. Everyone else in the squad is so well acquainted and familiar with one and other that Eren feels a bit like an outsider despite being one of them. Though he isn't really one of them in the same way, he knows that, he's only with them because he's supposed to be kept in check by the most capable soldiers on hand.
"We have training right after this meeting." The corporal spoke plainly, disinterested in conversating. "I decided to streamline the morning process by grabbing breakfast for everyone for the meeting." And that was that. The corporal picked up his cup and sipped from it, not even looking at Eren anymore as he sat down and started drinking his own tea.
Long silence filled the room as they sat without speaking a word. Levi was happy to leave it like that, it's his comfort to have quiet. Eren on the other hand was hoping deeply for the other members of the squad to arrive soon so that at least some noise fills the room. Then, as if the universe heard and answered his prayers the door opened and Oluo followed by Petra entered the room.
"Morning corp-" Petra was cut off upon seeing that Eren was also present already. "Oh, Eren! You're here already, huh?" She grinned in a friendly manner as she as next to Levi, Oluo quickly taking the free seat on the other side, in the middle of Eren's sight of Petra. Both of them evidently wide awake and ready to get the day started, much unlike Eren himself.
"The brat probably had to be woken up by the corporal, dragged him out of bed I'm sure." Oluo chimed in. Putting on a mean face much unlike what he appeared to be when he entered the room. Posturing for Eren clearly. Eren felt a surge of annoyance, though he refused to correct him.
"No." Levi abruptly spoke, causing Oluo to look at him incredulously, as though he just stole all of his energy right then and there. "Eren actually arrived on his own. Came straight here when he woke up." Levi then returned to his tea without another disinterested word. Slight mumbling coming from Oluo, though it was completely incoherent.
Petra held back a chuckle before saying to Eren, "I hope you're sleeping well down there, it's not very comfortable I'm sure." She spoke sympathetically, always trying to make Eren feel more welcome compared to the other four. Something that Eren, ever in his self indulgent world, hardly noticed or properly appreciated. Though when he was aware of it he didn't scoff at it or toss it aside like he'd do with Mikasa.
"It's fine. Thanks for the concern though." Eren said before sipping from his tea.
Mid sip however the door flew open to reveal Gunther and Eld, who walk in with a wave to everyone. The sudden entry caused Eren to jump a bit in his skin and fumble with his tea, nearly spilling it completely, thankfully for him nobody had noticed.
Once everyone was seated they all grabbed a piece of bread and started eating their breakfast. Some small talk being exchanged between the four primary members of the squad, while Levi remained silent, occasionally nodding to something said, a couple shrugs as well, but mostly not participating at all. Eren was completely void on the talking. Not being included at all, just focused on eating his bread and drinking his tea. Something that nobody interrupted, no conversation being forced on him, a choice that Eren appreciated as he wasn't sure he would be able to participate very well in any topic really.
Eren slowly got lost in his own thoughts, hardly even paying attention to his squad mates. What was on his mind varied moment to moment. Getting lost in ideas and self doubt even over the coming mission. Is he going to let them down if he can't get control of his powers? Would he even need to use his powers? What about his friends? Where would they be? Would they be in danger? Would-
"Eren." Levi called out from the door. Eren waking from his trance and realizing that everyone was gone. "Get a move on already brat." The corporal's voice sharp as he went out the door, not even waiting for Eren, who quickly got up and hurried to rejoin his squad. Some of his tea and bread leftover.
"Sorry corporal!" He exclaimed as he caught up with them. Levi taking the lead despite being the second to last to leave. A slight tch coming from the corporal as his only response.
"Hope you don't get into daydreaming when you're out in the field, Eren." Eld said teasingly. A small chuckle coming from him and Gunther, while Petra just shook her head and Oluo made a tsk sound. How desperately he tried to emulate corporal Levi it makes one question what his real personality was like.
Levi didn't comment, simply leading the way to the stables. Some words being exchanged between the squad members. Yet again leaving Eren at the back with nothing to say. As they walked Eren could hear the bustle of the general cafeteria, and witch a quick glance he is able to pick out a few familiar faces. Sasha, Connie, Jean regrettably, Reiner, Bertholdt and Christa. There were a few faces that he couldn't find, such as Ymir, Mikasa, Armin, though he didn't pay much mind to it, continuing to follow the squad as they made their way at a steady pace.
"Eren, you need help over there?" Petra asked the shifter, walking over with her horse's reins in hand, leading it along. Eren on the other hand was fighting with his horse about whether or not it wants to get out of its stable to even get ready to ride out.
"Uh. Well…" Eren struggles still with the horse who just won't budge for the unfortunate shifter. "If you're offering help I won't refuse." He spoke a bit nervously. Not wanting to put her out of her way but certainly not wanting to hold up the whole squad with his horse refusing to cooperate.
A small chuckle escaped the scout as she walked over and took the reins from Eren and gently guided the horse out, petting it lightly to calm it down as she leads it out of its stall and into the open enough for Eren to fit the saddle and reins on. Petra keeping its attention occupied while Eren works with the equipment.
After a few minutes, the horse is fitted and more open to cooperation with its rider. "Thanks Petra." Eren's voice is a bit reserved, evidently suffering from some wounded pride from having to get help to get his horse ready.
Petra just offers a smile as she leads her horse out of the stables. "It's no problem Yaeger. Now come on, we have a lot of training planned for today." Eren's expression evident sorrow, whether it's from the fact he didn't finish his breakfast completely for training or the fact that he's doing arguably the wrong type of practice is debatable. In his eyes he should be training to fight as a titan not as a soldier. He wants to do the same training as everyone else, but he never actually fights as a human, seeming to be, in his and many other's eyes a more valuable fighter in titan form than human form.
The whole of squad Levi were mounted and ready to go just outside the stables, so Eren quickly hopped onto his horse and joined everyone else, everyone already equipped with their 3D Maneuvering Gear for the training. Levi glanced around and once he gave everyone a look over he opened his mouth to speak, only to be cut off by a loud "Wait!" At which Levi visibly cringed from the voice alone.
Everyone glanced over to find Hange riding over with Moblit by her side. A wide smile on her face as she rode up to the group. "Hope you're all having a good morning!" The section commander said with all too much joy in her voice.
"What do you want Four Eyes?" Levi said plainly, not even bothering to respond to her well wishing.
"Well, if you must ask," everyone visibly sagged in their saddles, "Erwin wants me to come along to your training session and do some checks on Eren, do some tests on titan Eren too maybe." She said the last bit all too excitedly for Eren's taste, causing him to step his horse a few feet away from the section commander.
"Fine, just keep quiet and interrupt us as little as possible you abnormal." He grumbled a few other choice words under his breath, Hange simply smiling happily oblivious to the extra words he uttered. Moblit's shoulders slumping down as he continued to slowly lose his sanity the longer he's assigned to the titan obsessed section commander. "If that's everything then let's get a move on already." Levi said with only slight irritation audible in his voice. Eren wasn't completely certain but out of the corner of his eye he was pretty sure he saw an almost evil smirk on Hange's face.
In moments, the Levi squad accompanied by Hange and Moblit were on their way out of the scouting regiment base and on their way to a forest Eren would guess to train. First though was the matter of getting out of the forest that the base was in. A journey that does take some time. Taking advantage of the down time of riding, and at Eren's expense, Hange rode by his side, and started making conversation. "So Eren, I'm hoping to get in a bit more research in on your titan form if you think you can transform for us. We do know now that it takes a goal to be in mind for you to transform, we might be able to get you to transform with that knowledge now." Hange spoke likely thinking she just sounded cheerful and excited, but to anyone else she sounded almost feral for the chance to study Eren.
"Uh. We'll see… I'm not sure, I do have to focus on training Ms. Hange." The hope of that excuse being enough to stop her pressing were quickly dashed.
"Nonsense, your training should be about fighting and getting better at using your titan form, not the boring human form that the rest of us already deal with." Yet again it was likely that the section commander was hoping to sound cheerful and encouraging, but her tone still puts off a feeling of terror towards anyone that isn't her. Moblit meanwhile just behind them had a face of pure embarrassment at the behavior of his commanding officer.
"Four Eyes," Levi called out from the front of the group, "quit harassing my charge would ya?" His voice, as usual, was irritated and uninterested in having an actual conversation on the matter. Resulting in Hange simply sighing and dismissing her hopes.
The exit from the forest was in sight moments later, Hange spoke once more, "I don't see the issue, if it's for the good of humani-" Hange is cut off as she comes to a very sudden stop behind Petra, the whole group put to a stop by Levi just outside of the forest. "-Ow! What's going-" Once more she was cut off, but this time by what she saw. Eren was looking around at everyone in confusion. Dumbfounded by the sudden stop, before realizing everyone was looking in the same direction, following their gaze, he felt his throat lock up and his heart almost stop.
Sitting right in front of all of them was a titan. Fifteen meters tall, arms propping it up as it looked up at the sky. Seeming to not even notice their presence. Even Hange, who would jump at any chance to be near a titan in a secure environment, was more than just shocked at the sight before her.
"S-sir…" Eld said with obvious stuttering in his voice.
"What're we waiting for?" Oluo called out as he prepared his 3DMG, pulling out his blades. Without hesitation he shot out the grapples at the titan and flew around it.
"Oluo!" Petra called out, getting ready to follow after him, when without warning, the gaze of the titan shifted to the scout member in a flash. Oluo's eyes widened with a moment of fear, the titan's hand whipping up and taking hold of the wires before he could make any kind of retreat. The titan holds the dangling Oluo before it, seeming to study him. Everyone in the squad stunned, and just as they're all about to launch into action to save their team member, the titan puts him down. Causing every member of the group to freeze in place. Oluo's legs going weak and dropping him on his rear, staring up in horror at the titan, it's head hairless, blue eyes emotionless, and mouth lipless. Then it returned its gaze back to the sky, and its arm to propping itself up.
Nobody could speak. There's a titan in wall Rose, does that mean it's been compromised? No, word would have reached them by now with how far in they are. Is it intelligent? Even if it is intelligent how did it get all the way here? So many questions flooded through the minds of everyone present.
Then the sound of leaves rustling came from the forest, as Mikasa, Armin, and Ymir all came out with packs of sticks and twigs on their back, having been assigned a morning chore of collecting scrap wood for fires. They had come over to inspect the commotion, but all froze upon seeing the titan just sitting there. Mikasa's eyes instantly flew to Eren who's eyes were locked on the titan, not noticing they arrived.
"How's a titan here?" Armin whispered to himself, though the other two by him heard it clearly. "Wall Rose can't have been destroyed, we'd know by now, did it scale the wall then?" He was talking rapidly under his breath, stuttering over every word, and shaking in fear as he tried to wrap his head around the situation.
Then the titan glanced over at the new arrivals, perking up at the sight of them. It leaned forward staring at them, and that was when Eren finally took notice of his friends. A surge of fear running through him.
"Levi," Hange spoke as she rode up to his side, "we need to secure this titan, it might-"
"Yaeger!" She was cut off when Levi yelled the boy's name sharply, watching him fly around the titan. Mikasa watched in horror as he bit down on his thumb, blood spraying as lightning sounded out. Everyone covered their eyes as the ball of lightning that engulfed Eren shook the earth beneath them.
Then Eren's titan sprang from the light and dust, charging at the titan as it sat still. Then it spun around on the ground, kicking out Eren's legs from underneath him, sending him toward the ground, but before he could crash into the earth, the titan slammed a fist into his chest, sending him crashing into the trees on the edge of the forest, taking down a couple.
The titan stood now, watching Mikasa and Armin run towards Eren, seeming to focus on Mikasa. Hange attempted to speak again. "Levi, this is an intelligent titan, it's clear, and that means it's like Eren, human, if you can get the person in it's nape out we might be able to learn someth-" Yet again the section commander was cut off as Eren's titan charged out at the titan once more. That's when everyone looked at the foreign titan and realized it had grew short black hair, and its eyes had turned a dark silver in the time that they had looked away.
"What the? What did it just do?" Gunther was the first of the Levi squad to start speaking again.
"How'd we miss that?" Petra echoed.
"Oluo get back on your horse already!" Eld called to him, which he quickly listened to, running to and hopping back onto his mount.
They watched in shocked horror all together, the veterans and the new joins alike, as the right arm of the foreign titan morphed into bone and then sharpened into a blade in moments, replacing the forearm entirely with a bone like blade, Eren completely oblivious to it. Then the titan spun around, slicing eren's titan clean in half diagonally and kicking the top half back to where it had charged from, the cut leaving him with just one arm, while the disconnected half kept the other arm. Eren's titan lied on the ground with its face in the ground.
"Eren!" Mikasa and Armin cried out as they ran to the nape of their friend's titan. Ymir standing frozen in shock still where she was when she had emerged from the forest.
"Surround the titan, make sure it doesn't move!" Levi commanded as he shot his 3DMG at the nape of Eren's titan and flew to it. His team surrounding the titan on all sides, even Hange and Moblit despite not having their maneuver gear they instinctively fell in with the others.
Levi landed swiftly on the nape of Eren's titan and sliced it open, freeing the teenager, who was clearly already exhausted after such a swift defeat.
Armin glances from the sight of Eren being freed to the foreign titan, his eyes widening as he watched it feel over its own nape. His mouth opening as he watched its fingers turn bone white, and then sharpen like daggers. "Is it going to rip itself out?"
"What?" Mikasa looks over at Armin then at the titan, everyone's eyes on it, even Levi's, the only one not looking being the unconscious Eren.
"No way!" Hange squealed in sudden excitement.
"Section commander now is not the time!" Moblit cried out at his squad leader incredulously.
"Why doesn't it just come out?" Armin mumbled, earning a confused glance from Mikasa. "Eren came out of the titan when his energy was spent from using it." The foreign titan started digging its bone claws into the nape of its neck. Not even flinching yet.
"Armin, what're you trying to say?" Mikasa questioned him, staring at him in confusion before looking at Eren, then at the titan as it dug its claws deeper.
"I don't know." Armin said honestly. "But, if it is like Eren, why doesn't it just come out norma-" Armin was cut off as an ear shattering cry of pain was suddenly let loose by the titan. Continuing to dig into its nape. Everyone quickly covering their ears and wincing from the pain. The cries only intensifying as the claws dug deeper and deeper into the skin. Armin's thoughts being muddled by the screaming, but he knew that something was wrong, this was clearly a shifter like Eren, that much was clear to anyone present, but the real question was if it knew that.
Then with a single swift motion, the titan ripped out a chunk of its own flesh and went limp instantly. Dropping the body and chunks of flesh to the ground as it fell itself. The Levi squad and Hange and Moblit backing away so that they were out of the crash distance of the corpse. Everyone staring in horror at the scene before them.
The corpse of the titan collapsed and was still on the ground before the squad, with a human body limp next to it. Armin couldn't help but run over, Mikasa crying out for him to wait, but he didn't hear her. Mikasa suddenly torn between chasing after her fragile friend, or staying with her adoptive brother. A decision that tears her apart inside, but knowing that Eren is safe for now is enough to make her run to make sure Armin is okay.
Armin ran past Petra, who quickly sheathed her blades and ran after the boy off horse to try and keep him away.
"So, this is another titan shifter like Eren huh?" Hange said with thoughts racing. A hand resting against her chin as she thought. Moblit watching her carefully. "Which means it either came from inside the walls like Eren, or it was outside in wall Maria with the other titans, and found a way in."
Armin ran to the body that lay still at the side of the collapsed titan. Freezing when he saw what was there. "Armin!" Mikasa called out behind him, Petra right next to her as they ran to Armin's sides and looked down at the body, and froze just like him. Mikasa's eyes widening especially large. On the ground before them, a face that looked strikingly familiar to Mikasa's.
"I saw… I saw it changed… when it was a titan." Armin choked out. Earning a confused stare from Mikasa. "It had no hair originally… But when it looked at you… it grew hair that looked like yours Mikasa." Armin spoke shakily as he stared in shock at the body below them.
"It changed its eye color too…" Petra's words caused both Mikasa and Armin to turn to her, almost as though they had forgotten she was there. "Evidently it copied a bit more than that…" she added, avoiding their gaze a bit awkwardly, feeling like she invaded their privacy just by talking.
"Moblit." Hange spoke, causing him to perk up, having been mostly frozen in fear the entire encounter. "Inform commander Erwin that we have something he'll want to see." Moblit nodded quickly and turned his horse around, riding away from the scene.
Eren started to wearily open his eyes, watching the decaying corpse of both his and the strange titan. "Wha… What's…" Eren's voice was hoarse and forced. Levi hardly payed mind to it.
"You." Levi pointed at Ymir, who stiffened at the sound of his accusatory tone. "You're not gonna speak a word of what you saw here." She just nodded quickly. "Good. Now get out of here." Ymir didn't bother to salute, walking away quickly back towards the base with her collection of wood with her. A slight tch coming from Levi at the disrespect.
"Just what we needed." Oluo grumbled with immense irritation in his voice. "More titans and more secrets."
"Don't you just love a complicated life Oluo?" Gunther said in an attempt to lighten the mood, though it doesn't take.
"Hey." Levi called out as he goton his horse, Eren lying on his stomach just behind the saddle, having returned to unconsciousness. "One of you brats grab the girl and take Yaeger's horse and follow us. Petra, take the other with us." Petra nods as she looks at Mikasa, taking a guess that she won't want to ride with someone who looks so much like her. Which would be correct. Armin, after a bit of struggling, lifts up the titan shifter and brings her to the empty horse. Setting her down behind the saddle like Eren was set on Levi's before getting on the horse himself.
When everyone has gotten ready to leave, Armin pulls on the reins to get the horse to turn around, but it just refuses to move. "Seems like it's not just stubborn with Eren at least." Petra comments as she rides by him, stroking the horse's neck softly to get it to ease up.
"Thanks." Armin said softly before turning the horse around and joining everyone else. Beginning the journey back towards base. Mikasa riding along with Petra, her eyes locked on Eren and expressly ignoring the presence of the newly discovered titan shifter that apparently copied her appearance.
"Four Eyes." Levi said tersely. His eyes glancing to the side to look at the titan obsessive section commander. The section commander looked up at him curiously. Wondering what he's after. "Can you tell me what the hell just happened there?"
Hange looked down, unsure of herself, of what to say. Remaining silent for a moment before speaking. "I have no idea." Her words startled Levi, his eyes widening a bit at the titan fanatic having no idea what she just saw from a titan. "But I can say for certain. We have some new research material for me!" She almost screeched the last part, which elicited a number of deadpan looks from everyone present. Looks that she was completely oblivious of.
"I think I might have an idea corporal." Armin spoke up, causing a number of confused looks and curious glances. "The titan ripped its human body out, rather than just cutting itself out, or just tiring out to come out naturally. I think that it didn't even know itself that it was a human in a titan." Those words sent shivers down a number of spines. Not only was this a titan shifter who could apparently manipulate its body at will, but one that wasn't aware it was even human.
Tch came from Levi once more. "Just great." Levi said with copious amounts of disdain in his voice. And those were the last words spoken on the trip back.
Hello hello lovely readers, thank you for taking the time to read the first chapter of this fic. It is really appreciated and I hope you'll all take the time to leave a review and tell me your thoughts. It is my first time writing a fanfic in a long time so I hope you all enjoyed it. Apologies if there was a lack of dialogue going on, I plan to bring in much more dialogue in future chapters as well as character developing. We'll be learning more about this strange titan shifter that has appeared soon enough, however it might be some time before we get any answers, as I have another fic planned, or two, possibly three, long haul story based fics, one of which I already mentioned in the intro for those of you who took the time to read it. Alright, I don't like long author's notes so thank you all again for reading and I hope you'll all stick around for the journey, or even check out some of the other stuff I plan to write. Have a lovely day!