The last thing Jean was worrying about was the crate of guns digging into his shoulder as he manfully hauled them to the rest of the group.
"The way they look at me" Jean though, "it's like awe, they think I'm a leader."
"Fuck, I'm anything but a leader."
Jean got into the room and saw their faces again, they looked up and some smiled, other nodded, even Mikasa and Armin had the looks of respect, "Shit Reiner must have brought them up to speed."
"Hey everyone" chimed Jean with fake enthusiasm, "Lookie what we have here, complements of the Military Police."
Everyone gave a small faint cheer and despite the misery in the air lined up in front of the boxes grabbing guns.
"Hey Armin" Jean called out
"Hmm" Armin didn't say much as he was pouring over a diagram with Mikasa and the Wolf Pack.
"You sure this is going to work, I mean it's crazy."
"Not like we have any other options here Jean."
"That's the sad part of this whole messed up situation."
"Gather around everyone!" Reiner called out, "time to receive your orders."
The recruits gathered around the Wolf Pack, Mikasa, Armin and Jean.
"Okay here's how it's going to go down" Armin began, "The underground area has been filled with seven four meter class titans."
"We are going to lower down on the elevator with everyone facing out to draw the titan's attention, when they are all in range we open fire with buckshot blinding them."
"Then the seven best swordsmen here will leap from the ceiling killing all seven at once."
The room could not have been more silent if someone had just threatened to sacrifice as virgin. Everyone's eyes were wide, not because the plan was crazy but because the crazy plan was the only choice.
"Load up" said Jean, "don't be stupid and just follow the plan."
Jean, Annie, Reiner, Connie, Potato Girl, Mikasa and Bertolt were hiding in the darkness of the rafters as the light of the elevator gently descended into the room. The elevator creaking caught the titan's attention and when they saw the humans they started shuffling over.
The elite team tensed in preparation ready to move, the titans were nearly in range.
"FIRE!"
The room erupted into gunfire, Jean's ears were deafened for a moment but regardless he charged forwards and leapt from the ceiling towards his titan. Executing a perfect slash as he fell Jean's titan was killed, he combat rolled and looked around seeing his, two, three, four, five.. "Shit" he thought.
Connie and Potato Girl have missed, "Shit, shit, shit, shit!"
Before he could get halfway Mikasa and Annie dispatched the titans for them.
"Oh my god you saved my life, Oh my god thank you so much!" Sasha cooed over Annie.
"Do a better job next time" came the cold reply,
"So harsh."
Connie rubbing his head walked over to Mikasa "Sorry Mikasa that was pretty bad huh."
"Not at all" said Mikasa, "consider it repayment for earlier."
"Haha okay you're still the best Mikasa."
"Thank-you" she replied walking away.
Jean couldn't help but think "Damn she is always so cold with everyone except Eren, what's that bastard have that we don't?"
Jean shook his head correcting himself "Can't be speaking ill of the dead like that."
"Hey Jean you having a fit or something man?" Connie teased.
"Shut your face."
"Ooohh maybe I should call Mikasa back you're always so nice when she's around."
Jean felt his ears redden "Why you little…"
"Cool your vents princess, we did it. We can re-gas now."
Jean smiled at his embarrassment "Yeah let's get it done."
Leaving Connie with his gear Jean sat next to Marco, good old level headed Marco.
"So nice leadership skills" Oh fucking shit.
Marco laughed at the expression on Jean's face "Hey easy there."
"I'm not a leader" Jean said downcast, "seriously what kind of leader leaves people to die."
"The ones who know what the score it"
Jean looked at Marco in incredulity "What?"
"Look Jean you're a good leader, hell a damn good one and it's not cause you're strong either."
"Hey you're really lowing the bar for the cheering up game."
"Well you need to hear this then. It's because you know what it's like to be weak, you can relate to everyone and they know it too."
"Just think about it" said Marco as he finished gassing and got up.
Suddenly the building began to rumble and dust floated down from the roof.
"So boss what's the plan"
"I really hate you Marco."
"The big ones are making their way through the outer building now" said Mikasa "we can't tarry."
"Agreed" said Reiner and Jean in unison.
The whole team was re-gassed and ready to go just as the inner doors crashed open and six more four meter class titans poured through. Thankfully the team was all ready and they all were up the elevator before the titans were even close.
Making their way across the courtyard the crashing of titan's through the building was getting louder.
"Everyone one the rooftops" shouted Jean "Reiner and Connie spread to the sides and get us numbers."
Off they went, Jean turned to Sasha "Take Annie and make sure everyone gets up, Mikasa, Bertolt and I will go to the top and scout ahead."
Jean along with his squad deviated and manoeuvred to the platform at the top of the building taking a moment to catch his breath Jean looked over the side and his heart stopped.
Dead titans so many of them he lost count at around 15 and at least half of them were smoking so they had been dead for at least a few minutes while other were still gently steaming, the other titans simply climbing over the corpses to get inside..
What's going on" Mikasa said "do we have allies in the area?"
"I thought everyone has been wiped out?" said Bertolt, "not to mention I can't see anyone, maybe their dead."
"They were wiped out, that's why so many of us died" Jean said, "It's also not feasible they would send any reinforcements, it's a death trap."
"Hey guys everyone's in position" said Armin as he flew up to the platform."
"Hey Armin check it out, any ideas?" asked Jean.
"Whoa" he remarked and after surveying for a moment he said "It's been one guy who did this."
Everyone gasped and took a step back from the edge "You serious Armin?"
"Yeah check it out, they all only have one slash not two." He said pointing at the bodies necks.
"No gouge just deep enough to sever the necks weak spot."
"He must have picked them off while they were trying to get into the building" surmised Bertolt.
"I agree" said Armin, then he pointed "but look over there."
Every looked where he was pointing and they went pale, a line of dead titan's heading down the main street.
"Hey Mikasa" said Jean shakily "we didn't come from that way did we?"
"No."
"Yeah thought so just checking."
Suddenly Armin choked and had tears in his eyes, tears of horror.
"Oh god" he fell to his knees staring at an abnormal titan a few streets over.
"Armin what's wrong?" Mikasa said quickly going to his side.
"T-t-t-that's t-the t-t-titan that k-killed T-Thomas" he screamed.
Jean eyes went red, he saws Mikasa's eyes go dark "The one who wounded Eren right Armin?"
"The one who got him killed"
Armin could only nod his head limply.
Jean and Mikasa drew their blades at the same time, staring at the titan.
"It took Eren by surprise, don't rush this" Jean spoke to Mikasa
Mikasa said nothing but her eyes said she would rip it to shreds, they burned with an almost unholy lust for death, Jean couldn't help but feel a tinge of fear seeing those eyes.
They ran to the edge ready to jump off but stopped shocked by the scene before them. The abnormal had turned and then fallen over steaming. Culled by a lone ODM user the abnormal crashed through a building and was still.
Too far away to even see who it was Mikasa stood enraged having been robbed of her prey, Jean was shocked by the appearance of an ally and the rest were too busy watching that they never noticed the fifteen meter who had made it through the building and climbed up spookily silent until it had gotten right behind them.
"Behind us!" Bertolt shouted.
Everyone turned ready to fight but they knew when its hand was already approaching they hadn't the time. The others were at the opposite end of the complex, they hadn't seen it until it was too late and they were between a titan and a long way down, at the bottom more titans.
Mikasa saw the world moving slowly, she brandished her blades, shouted a cry and flew at the titan and breakneck speed, ready to kill.
A shadow flittered overhead and a yell of rage broke Mikasa concentration, but what she saw made her drop her blades, her hands couldn't move, her chest was heaving, she felt electrified with only one word in her mind she whispered, "Eren."
He flew like a demon out of hell, crashing into the titan's eye and slashing it out the slide. Manoeuvring downwards between the titan's legs, Eren hit the ground rolling while still connected the titan's knee.
Roaring the titan turned but Eren had already reeled in and using his blade like a climbing pole gouged it into the titan, heaving himself up and gouging it in again and again until he reached the neck. With a scream he plunged it in and yanked until the titans legs gave out, with the force he leapt on the platform and collapsed in a heap.
Author's Note: I deeply enjoyed exploring Jean's personality a little here. He is a reluctant leader but still takes up the mantle when it is required of him. Being one of the more deep characters I'm wondering where I can take him but still he need's to find a girl and settle down. Seriously he can crush on Mikasa all he wants but he isn't blind she is literally devoted to Eren in every way, shape and form. Thanks again for reading. Ciao.
C.C.