Don't own the anime/manga. If I did, I'd have probably introduced what happened with Eren's Titan in Ep. 25 a bit earlier. That shit was awesome.
Titans… TITANS…
"PROTECT! PROTECT! PROTECT!" For every fist thrown, every kick unleashed, every Titan splattered against the ground, this Rogue Titan that'd appeared yelled that one word. Mikasa, having met up with the others, watched alongside them as it effortlessly worked through wave after wave, only taking minimal injury at most.
"I see what you mean, Ackerman. Its stance when it fights reminds me of Eren's." Annie's comment was met with a cold stare from Mikasa. Annie simply smirked and turned back to the fight.
"I-its general build reminds me of Eren!" Christa covered her mouth a moment later, managing to blush despite the situation.
Mikasa's face grew colder at this. 'No one gets to see Eren shirtless… NO ONE!' She thought angrily, fists clenching.
"Oh yeah, he's got quite the body on him underneath the uniform. Almost makes up for him being such an idealist." Ymir was shamelessly licking her lips, her eyes closed as she thought about things that Mikasa would go ballistic over.
"Oi, oi, enough Yeager-worship. We need to get back inside and figure out a way to clear the 3 meters from the gas storage." Jean, jealous as he was, was also concerned about saving everyone he could.
"He's right, let's get to work everyone." Reiner stated rather simply, his eyes still on the Rogue as it continued its rampage.
Titans. TITANS!
"We spent a lot of time resupplying, and it's still going. When the hell is it gonna just drop dead?!" Jean screamed, frustrated. All of the females present turned a glare on him, even Christa, which caused him to flinch away, a rain cloud of depression hovering above him.
"It looks like the thing's taken quite a bit of damage. Exposed ribcage, left arm's a stump. Still, it's wrecking all of the competition." Reiner was quite impressed with this abnormal.
"PROTECT!" A 15 meter flew through the air, its jaw buried within its own facial structure.
"Ah, its technique is flawless." Annie commented, voice as dull as ever, but a certain gleam in her eye.
"Think we'll get a chance to find out why it only kills other Titans, Mikasa?" Armin asked, curious about the abnormal himself. "Maybe. It seems like that was the last of the Titans in this area, so I'm going to approach it." "B-but-" "Don't worry, Armin. I'm rank 2 for a reason." There was the slightest hint of cockiness in her voice, though no one would be able to pick up on it.
Approaching the Rogue was more difficult than she'd thought, as it seemed to still be raging in its search of more Titans within the area. "Hey, Titan!" At Mikasa's shout, the 15 meter turned its head to her, suddenly settling into a relaxed stance. Its eyes stared at her curiously, as she launched through the air, landing on the building directly in front of him.
Having reached this point, Mikasa had no idea what she was actually going to do. Of course, you don't simply ask a raging Titan "Why are you killing?" and expect an answer, right?
Lost in thought, she didn't realize until it was there, that the Titan had settled its hand next to her, cupped upwards like a platform. Hearing the shifting of tiles beneath the giant hand, she turned her gaze to it, questioningly. It simply nodded its head, fingers flinching slightly when Mikasa stepped up onto it. It carefully brought the hand up to eyelevel, staring with its startlingly human gaze.
"Protect… hu-man…" The second word was broken up, but understood nonetheless. Before she could try to comprehend what this meant, the Rogue had lurched forward, eyes rolled into the back of its head as it fell, face-first into the building.
"Mikasa!" "Oi, Ackerman!" "Mikasa!" Various shouts sounded out, as most of the group was worried for her safety.
The Titan 'corpse' seemed to be letting off abnormal amounts of steam.
…
…
"EREN!" The entire group surrounded the aforementioned, who lay within the nape of the Rogue Titan's neck, eyes half-lidded. He was alive, as far as they could tell.
"O-oi… Calm down, everyo-GHK!" Eren found himself no longer within the squishiness that was Titan-goop, instead on the hard stone of the ground, pinned there by Annie. Mikasa stood off to the right, tears in her eyes as she stared down at him. Christa soon joined Annie on the ground, along with Ymir, as they all doted on the one they'd thought dead, although in different ways.
"Eren. As soon as we're out of Trost, we're sparring. No exceptions." Annie.
"I-I was so afraid, that it w-was true, th-that you were dead… I'm so glad it's not, Eren…" Christa.
"You idiot, you had me worried. Who would keep my day from being as dull as it is usually, with you gone?" Ymir.
"S-so, you guys aren't worried, at all, about me coming out of that Titan?"
"I'm just… glad that you're alive, Eren." Mikasa managed to let out, clenching her teeth a moment later to stifle a sob.
With all that was going on, coupled with his exhaustion, a lapse in control was the least of his worries. He could practically feel how red his cheeks surely were. Why all of these people cared so much for him, he had no clue.
Though, Annie's kiss from earlier that day was enlightening. Speaking of which, he had just received another, in front of everyone, from each of the women gathered. Afterwards, they all turned glares at one-another, occasionally growling lowly.
Women were scary when after the same man.
Titans… TITANS…
Scarier still, was the ease of which humanity could turn its back on an individual, given a reason.
"Cadet Yeager! Cadets Ackerman and Arlert! The answer to this next question, determines whether you live or die!" The situation wasn't looking good. Having told the nearest commanding officer of what had happened in Trost, they had been given the gag order. Letting out that they had a 'Titan-shifter' within Wall Rose would not sit well with the populace. Apparently, word had gotten out anyway, and that's why they found themselves surrounded by a portion of the defense team.
"Answer this! What are you?!"
This question hit Eren hard, as he had no idea how to answer. Clearly, he appeared to be human now. But after what he'd witnessed, within the form of a Titan, slaughtering countless other Titans, he wasn't so sure of himself. The reassurance he'd gained from his friends earlier, seemed to melt away as he was stared at by so many others as a monster.
'Damn it… I don't even know what I am anymore… How can I accomplish my goals if I'm no longer human?'
"Oi! Yeager! If you do not answer within the next minute, I will have all of our cannons within the area fire upon you, as well as Cadets Ackerman and Arlert! Answer now!"
"Sir, that would not be wise. Cadet Ackerman graduated in Place 2, making her skills valued just a tad bit behind Cadet Yeager's. Please reconsider firing while she's down there." Rico Brzenska, a valued member of the Stationary Guard. Her opinion had much weight in terms of both militant and political views.
'I'm glad… You'll be able to live, Mikasa, despite being related to me…' This train of thought was interrupted by the aforementioned.
"Cutting. Slicing. Dicing. Anything in-between. My skills are quite valued, hm? Well, harm Eren Yeager in anyway, and you'll be witnessing my skills firsthand." Her voice was cold, her gaze matching. Swords at the ready, she'd protect the last of her family at all costs.
In all of this, Armin was racking his brain for ways to convince the people around them that his best friend wasn't a threat to humanity. 'Shit… At least half of the people here are from the 104th… Why do they doubt Eren, then..?' For once, he couldn't think. 'I'm so sorry, Eren… for all my supposed intellect, the one time it really counts, I can't think of anything…!'
…
…
"…What the-?!"
"Did we hit him?!"
"What's with all the smoke?!"
"ENOUGH!" A yell could be heard within the smoke, which was now clearing at a steady rate. Within, they could see the crumbling form of a Titan-skeleton, muscle formed on much of the left arm. In the splattered remains of the hand, the fragments of a grapeshot were encased.
"ENOUGH OF ALL THIS BULLSHIT!" Dropping down from the neck of the behemoth, Eren stared out into the eyes of Rico, then the officer she stood behind.
"I am human!" This statement was met with a few scoffs, but others couldn't even manage that. "I am a human being, capable of something seen as alien, traitorous even! But I do not wish to hurt humanity with this ability! I aim to destroy every last Titan with what I've been given! I aim to lead humanity beyond the walls, to retake what's owed to us! The entirety of this world we live in, is ours! The Titans are simply holding it for us." A clenched fist slammed into his chest and back, as he pledged his heart to those around him.
"How can he say that, know that humanity has never had a victory against them..? How?" After the short speech from Cadet Yeager, Rico had huddled into herself, unsure of the situation for the first time since her graduation. She wanted to believe that he was right, that they could succeed! But so much was stacked against that.
"S-such an inspiration…"
"I feel stronger..!"
"Fuck those Titans! They're all just prey for us to hunt!"
Many yells along this line were uttered, as those who at first had doubted Eren's very humanity, now believed fully in him. Even the officer who had ordered his death. In fact, he'd been the one to yell first.
"I see that your file doesn't lie, Cadet Yeager." All went silent, as they heard the lighthearted, aged voice. All attention was now paid to Dot Pixis, Commander of the Stationary Guard. In times of strife, he was the go-to commander for all things. It was no surprise for him to be here, but here specifically was another matter.
"Eren Yeager, Age: 18. Height: 170 cm. Weight: 63 kg. Known as the best to come out of the Trainees' Division since Corporal Levi of the Scouting Legion. Also known to inspire those around him, making him a prime example of quote: 'the best humanity has to offer'. Recently known to be able to take on the form of a 15-meter Titan, distinctly muscular with dual-rowed teeth, pointed ears, a sharp nose, and an 'intense hatred for other Titans'. A pleasure to meet you." Throughout all of this, the calm smile on Pixis' face never left his aged face.
Having made his way up to where everyone had gathered around the commander, flanked by his friends, Eren nodded his head, a tad nervous. "O-of course. I take it that last bit of information is what you're here about?"
"Ah, yes. I wish to discuss some things I've been contemplating since hearing of your situation. The skeleton behind you gives more definition to my ideas. We'll be heading to the top of the walls. Don't dawdle." With that, Pixis zipped off, showing none of his age as he expertly used his maneuver gear.
Titans… TITANS!
"I can do it, Sir! I can, and I will!"
"Good. The Elite Squad will be accompanying you for this. You'll be safe from any Titans that may linger while you accomplish this." Pixis took another swig from his stout, enjoying the burning sensation of cheap liquor pouring down his throat.
Finishing with a satisfied sigh, "Be sure to restock supplies, as well as catch up with your comrades. You may not see them again, after all is done." With a solemn nod, the commander walked off, probably to discuss his plans with those directly under his command.
"Mikasa, please stay behind for this one." Seeing immediate protest in her eyes, Eren stepped forward, hand grasping her chin gently as he stared into her eyes commandingly. "I'll be fine, Mikasa. With this ability, I'll be able to gain humanity its first victory."
"E-Eren, I-"
"And I want you to be up on the walls. I want you to watch. Watch as I bring the Titans their first defeat, in the form of that fucking boulder down there." His lips were dangerously close to her own. "Most of all…"
"P-Please, Eren…"
"I want you to be proud of me."
The following kiss burned hotter than any Titan's skin.
…
…
"Hey, Annie…"
"Yeah, Yeager?"
"You're cute when you're angry."
The resounding smack, followed closely by the more subtle 'smooch' could be heard for quite a ways still.
"If you wanted a kiss, you could've just said so, Yeager."
"Where's the fun in that?"
…
…
"I'll come back, Christa. I'd never do that to such a kind person."
"St-stop it, Eren… I won't be able to think straight during the mission at this rate…"
"That's not reason enough to stop me from doing this." A few minutes of silence.
"…O-oh my, Eren…"
…
…
"Oi, idiot. Lay it on me."
"So forward, Ymir."
Panting, heated whispers, wet smacks.
"One of us has to be… Otherwise, it'd be dull…!"
Titans… TITANS…
"PROTECT!"
Truly, that was the only word that Eren could seem to manage within the Titan, and yet, it spoke all the same as any speech he'd uttered. Veins visibly ablaze beneath its skin, eyes glowing a powerful blue in comparison to the usual eerie green, teeth sharpened further.
This sudden augmentation, this surge of complete, unadulterated power, brought on by some unknown reason. Whatever it was, helped immensely, as it allowed him to easily carry the giant boulder, all while running at a steady jog. Sure, its muscled looked to be straining immensely, but it was otherwise unaffected.
"We'll win…" Rico, part of the Elite Squad guarding Eren, uttered weakly, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Because of that man… humanity will win!"
Up above, atop the breached portion of the wall, sat Eren's friends from his training days. Even Jean was there, gazing at the charging form of the Rogue Titan with a sense of pride. "He'll make a believer out of all of us… damn Yeager-brat.."
As they stared, each of the women that'd had their feelings reciprocated touched a hand to their lips, almost unconsciously, at the same time. "Eren…" They each whispered.
The two that remained quiet, Reiner Braun and Bertholdt Fubar, simply stared at him blankly. A slight smirk finally worked its way onto Reiner's face. "What a guy… he's almost a Warrior…" Hearing this, Bertholdt blinked at the buff man, a small amount of understanding working its way onto his face after a minute.
"PROTECT! PROTECT! PROTECT!" Finally, Eren thought, as he felt himself slam the boulder into the broken gate, forming a sturdy blockade. Finally, after all these years of losing to those filthy Titans. Finally…
Humanity had won.
Titans… TITANS!
Well, it really took me a while to get around to doing this one. Multiple things came up, though mainly my struggles with Algebra/Trig. I had to divert a lot of my time to that, just to keep caught up. Now, though, I think I have what we're currently going over down pat, so more time to write.
Anyway, thanks to those who reviewed, and to those who'll continue to review, even after my unannounced absence. Hope you enjoyed this. Leave a review, even if it's to tell me to keep going/not. Every bit helps.
Seeya.