Chapter 5

~~week and ½ time skip brought to you by, Levi's love for Eren~~

EREN POV

Eren sat with his legs hanging over the Forecastle Deck looking out to the dark water. The intense fog seemed to swallow the entire ship whole. Eren couldn't see more than about 10 feet in any direction. Eren shuttered slightly as a sea breeze blew over the boat. He had forgotten his coat when he left. As the breeze passed by, Eren felt a sudden weight of a coat land on his shoulders. "Forgot you coat, brat?" Levi started as he sat down next to Eren handing him his tea. Eren nodded silently. They both fell into their routine comfortable silence. Some nights Eren would ask simple questions about being a pirate or tell Levi one of his amazing stories from his travels but most nights they just sat in a comfortable silence together. Eren took his tea and turned his gaze down with his face suddenly feeling a bit warmer. He and Levi had seemed to fall into a nightly routine of drinking tea after the ship had calmed down and most people had gone to sleep.

Peaceful sleep never came for Eren without the help of Hanji's seemingly magic tea. The effects of the tea helped for a dreamless sleep. It also helped that the tea was probably the best tea he had ever drank. Hanji said that Levi didn't have much rules about food and such but she had told him quote, "I will have no shit tea on my ship." Eren smiled silently to himself. "What are you smiling about over there, brat?" Levi's voice snapped Eren back into reality. "Oh nothing... haha, just remembering something Hanji told me the other day," Eren replied. Levi's nose seemed to scrunch up at the mention of Hanji. "Anything that shitty glasses freak says to you can't possibly be good," Levi said sounding slightly sarcastic. Eren gave a small laugh and they returned to their comfortable silence.

Eren had not told Levi yet that the trio had decided to stay on Levi's ship and become part of his crew. They had agreed that although the three of them had decided to stay that first night, they should really see how they get along with most of the crew first. It had been almost two weeks since him, Mikasa and Armin have been on the ship and it had been the most relaxing yet exciting time they have had in what seemed like forever. Armin seemed to automatically bond with Hanji. The two of them together may probably be the most dangerous thing these seas have ever seen.

Armin had also seemed to be getting a bit cozy with Levi's first mate Erwin. Armin brushed it off most days stating that Erwin was a tactical genius and Armin just loved sharing battle plans with him. Mikasa on the other hand seemed to be impressing people left and right with her fighting abilities. She began sparring with the other Alphas on the ship and was being begged to help others with all the various fighting forms they had picked up on their travels. Mikasa also seemed to spar with one particular Alpha more than any other. This Alpha was a girl named Annie. The two of them never seemed to talk much but were incredible sparring partners that no one even dared get in their way when they were practicing.

Last night the three of them decided that joining Levi's crew was not only the best option for them but something they all wholeheartedly wanted to do. Tonight Eren decided he would tell Levi that they had come to a decision. "Hey Levi?" Eren began. "What's up, brat?" Levi responded. "So, I thought that maybe we should talk about, ya know…" Eren brought his wrist up to show Levi. "Ya know… this." Eren had been slightly dreading this part of the conversation. He couldn't lie to himself or Levi that it had been that very mark that had really influenced him to stay with Levi and his crew. Levi had always been a hero in Eren's eyes but he couldn't help but feel that if they had found them in that cell and Eren and Levi had not been True mates, he probably would not have decided to stay stuck on a ship full of Alphas. Levi would have always been his Hero for all the terror he was on the seas to the RMP but at the end of it Levi would have just been another Alpha in this cruel unforgiving world. Eren still had a bitter taste in his mouth about Alphas and knew that coming to trust the other Alphas on this ship was not going to be the easiest thing to do.

Levi looked back between Eren and the mark and nodded his head in agreement. "Here is the thing, Levi," Eren began. "I can't deny that no matter what happened to me in that cell, I feel an undeniable draw to you and I am sure you feel it too." Eren paused as Levi nodded his head again. "And tonight I wanted to let you know that Mikasa, Armin and I have decided to join your crew officially." Eren watched as Levi's face stayed stoic but emotion that seemed like relief and joy flooded his eyes. "I just… know that I am not ready for whatever this whole true mate thing entails." Eren watched as Levi's eyes fell slightly and felt a lump form in his throat. Levi thought Eren was going to reject him as his mate. "No... no, I don't mean it like that." Eren paused for a moment before continuing he was trying to find the right words but it was so hard. "Levi, I am not rejecting this idea of you and I being mates but I just don't want this whole thing to move so fast… I just need time and I hope that me being your mate was not the whole reason you were letting us stay and join your crew because I don't know when I am even going to be ready to take that step."

Eren finally stopped the rambling falling out of his mouth and looked down again at his tea. "Eren…" Levi began. Eren was slightly scared of what Levi was going to say but he looked back up at Levi. "Listen I would Love to have you, Mikasa and Armin as part of my crew no matter what our wrist or this universe say about what we are. The three of you have proven yourself to be assets to any crew and I would be honored to have you be part of mine, Mate or not. I will also not deny that a selfish part of me wants you to stay because of this pull I feel toward you, but I will never do anything to you that makes you uncomfortable." Eren almost choked on his words as he tried to swallow the lump in his throat but failed. He felt as hot tears pricked the side of his eyes. Eren had been so fearful of this conversation but Levi had not rejected him nor his wanting to be part of his crew. "Thank you, Levi," Eren whispered and they sat silently again finishing their tea with their fingers slightly brushing up against each others.

Levi walked Eren back into his room and wished him goodnight. "Tomorrow we will announce to the crew your trio's agreement to join and all the things that entails." Eren nodded his head in understanding and wished Levi a goodnight. He crawled into his cot and fell asleep.

BANG

Eren was jolted awake as a loud crash echoed around him. Mikasa and Armin jumped out of their beds. The three of them were instantly alert trying to figure out what was happening. They peered out into Levi's main quarters but he was not there. Almost immediately Levi barged into the room looking slightly panicked followed by Hanji and Erwin. "How did they find us, eyebrows?!" Levi barked. Levi was oozing Alpha pheromones and both Hanji and Erwin seemed to be struggling to talk. Eren released some of his own pheromones to mask them from Levi's which snapped their attention to them. "Shit… Eren, listen we are under attack by a RMP ship. I have no idea how they found us so fast but they snuck up on us in this hideous fog. The three of you should stay put. We will go and get rid of this damn scum."

Eren watched as Erwin and Hanji nodded as they started fastening their masks. "No way, Levi!" Eren said back immediately. Eren watched as Levi obviously frustrated not wanting to or having the time to argue this started to open his mouth in protest. "Levi!" Eren shot out again. "The three of us have been running, fighting and hiding from the RMP for our entire lives. We will not sit idle in this room as your crew… no, our future crew fights as we hide in some room." Levi's face returned to its stoic non expression but Eren saw the fire burning in his eyes. "Okay, brat." Levi responded. "Follow me."

Eren, Mikasa and Armin followed Levi to his wall of weapons and Levi turned to each of them. First to Armin. "What is your specialty?" Levi asked sharply. "Sniper rifle and long distance shooting, sir," Armin replied. "Got it," Levi responded. Levi walked to the gun portion of his shelf and pulled a long rifle off the wall. The rifle was fitted with a type of telescope. "Listen up, Armin…" Levi began. "This is the most accurate sniper rifle I have ever found in the world. The telescope fitted on top works as an eyepiece that is more accurate than any crosshair." Armin nodded taking the gun and peering thru the scope. Levi also handed Armin a sword and handgun for any close combat he may get into.

Levi turned to Mikasa "What is your specialty?" he asked. "Close combat and duel blades, sir," Mikasa replied. BANG! Another hit on the ship sent shock waves throughout the room. "We are running out of time," Levi began. "Erwin!" Levi barked. "Tell the crew to mask up and get then ready for battle." Levi turned to Hanji next. "Hanji, go get me two masks; one for Armin and one for Mikasa." "What about Eren?" Hanji replied as she ran for the door. Levi and Eren locked eye contact for a moment. "He doesn't need one Hanji. Now go!" Hanji turned and ran out of the room as Levi turned back to his weapon wall pulling down another blade. Levi clicked a switch on the handle of the blade and it split into two pieces. He handed both of them to Mikasa. "It acts as both a sword and a Duel blade," Levi began. "Simply fit the two pieces together and it becomes a single sword again." Mikasa tested it once or twice before flawlessly transferring the sword back and forth flawlessly.

Levi nodded in approval and handed Mikasa a pistol before looking towards Eren. "Specialty, Eren?" Eren looked back at Levi "The sword." Levi nodded and walked once more to his wall. Eren watched as Levi pulled out the most beautiful sword Eren had ever seen. The handle was long and narrow surrounded by twisting gold and silver. The blade seemed to glimmer in the dim lit room. "Eren, this is my sword and it has never failed me. There will be times in this battle that I will not be able to be at your side so please let it protect you." Eren nodded as he grabbed the sword. He felt almost as power seemed to flow through him as he grasped the sword. Levi then handed him a pistol. "I have to go command the crew," Levi began. He looked from one of them to the next with his eyes landing on Eren. "Don't you dare die on me, brats." With that he left the room.

Eren, Mikasa and Armin looked from one to another. Each of them showed the obvious signs of fear and thrill across their faces. "Listen up, guys" Eren began. "Levi's crew have been fighting together for a long time. We don't want to mess up their battle routines and strategies so this is what we're gonna do. Mikasa, you're with me on the ground. We're gonna play backup for the rest of the crew. No one in Levi's crew will be getting stabbed or shot through the back tonight. Armin, you get up to the highest, safest vantage point. Send me the whistle sign when you're situated. Watch me through the scopes and I will sign you anything you need to know from the ground. Armin, we'll use your whistle signs that we made up for the various different parts of the ship. Keep an eye out from above for the people who need help and tell us where to go." Eren looked up. His two friends nodded and they proceeded out to the Main Deck.

Armageddon. That is what the trio saw as they left the captain's quarters. The two ships had been hooked together with people on both sides boarding both ships. Swords were clashing and pistols were shooting. Eren watched only for a second as Levi's crew danced around the seemingly endless onslaught of RMP soldiers. "EREN" Mikasa yelled "Lets go!" Eren snapped back to reality. He turned and nodded to Armin. In the chaos the trio made it to the Main Mast of the ship and guarded it as Armin made his climb upward. Armin being extremely agile and fast snaked his way up the Mast before most RMP officers noticed their presence. "He's here!" Eren heard shouted. He whipped around to see RMP soldiers making their way towards them. Eren and Mikasa held their weapons up ready to strike. Eren reached up giving Mikasa one last warning before pulling off the leather guard around his neck that guarded his scent gland.

For the most part Eren never took off this leather guard. It played two purposes in Eren's life: one being the protection of his scent gland for Alpha's trying to mate him. The second being a power he had been training to use his entire life. The power that had made the last 4 generations of kings hunt for omegas. He had been practicing to manipulate this power since he learned about it in his father's lab. Most ancient studies said that it could not be used unless an omega was in danger of being unwillingly mated but Eren's father had been using various experiments and tortures to get it to release. Although his father was mostly unsuccessful, Eren had began to feel its powers that laid mostly dormant start to stir more and more on command. He had never told his father to deny him the glee that his methods of torture were working and awakening something inside him but after he had escaped Eren had been training with Mikasa daily to use it. Through his continuous training he became able to maneuver this command pheromone power like a whip through the air. The downside being only that he could only use it on one or two alphas at a time in small time periods or he began feeling pain in his bones and joints.

Eren pushed his command pheromones at the upcoming Alphas and watched as their faces became contoured in confusion as they froze in place and dropped their weapons. Soon after blood spat from their mouths as Mikasa's swords pierced their hearts from behind. Eren released the command pheromones feeling a slight tightening feeling in his index finger. "Too long," Eren thought to himself. Mikasa joined him again at his side as they heard a whistle from above. It was Armin. The whistle was low but resonated throughout the ship. Armin whistled one long whistle and two short ones meaning trouble on the Quarter Deck. Mikasa and Eren without needing to even turn to each other made their way towards the quarter deck.

Two of Levi's crew, Marco and Jean, were surrounded by five big Alphas seeming to be outnumbered. Eren and Mikasa jumped into action. Eren quickly signaled Armin to aim for the largest of the group. Almost instantly a shot rang out putting a bullet through the huge bloke's forehead. The others froze momentarily in confusion to the sudden drop of the large alpha solider. During the surprise, Eren and Mikasa charged the other four soldiers. They snapped back into action after realization of what happened turning their backs to a just as equally surprised Jean and Marco. "That's him!" one of the alpha soldiers said pointing his sword at Eren. With hearing that for the second time that night, Eren decided his hypothesis of the RMP attack on the ship was because he was on it.

Mikasa passed one of the Alphas her swords clashing with two more. Eren charged the Alpha who was yelling at him with his sword easily deflecting the soldier's attacks. Marco and Jean took down the forth seemingly forgotten by the RMP soldiers when Eren and Mikasa arrived and helped to finish off the two soldiers Mikasa was fighting. When the other three dropped, Eren released his command pheromone again on the Alpha he was fighting, freezing him in his place. The RMP officer dropped his weapon and Eren signaled Mikasa to tie him up. As soon as he was tied up, Eren released his command and bent down face to face with the alpha who was now struggling against his binds.

Eren proceeded to knee him in the face sending him toppling over. He pulled the officer up by his hair. "Who sent you?!" Eren demanded. The officer simply spat in Eren's face. "You damn as well know who sent us, you dirty little omega bastard." Eren's face went suddenly white. Of course HE sent them. Grisha Yeager. Eren's father. Eren looked down at the alpha once more before plunging his sword through the officer's heart. Another whistle. Eren snapped back up listening intently. Four whistles slightly higher than the other one… another ship.

BAM! The next ship rammed into Levi's ship. Eren was swaying suddenly almost falling over but caught on to the wheel of the ship. He watched in horror as another RMP ship latched hooks into theirs. Screams, battle cries, gunshot and confusion filled the air. Eren's heart sank slightly as the next brigade of RMP crew members swarmed the ship. Suddenly, Eren felt the surge of Levi's dominating pheromone fill the air but it was also mixed with panic and fear. Levi was in trouble. Eren signaled Armin to find Levi and turned quickly to Mikasa. "Mikasa, Levi is in danger. I can feel it. Armin is finding him now." Mikasa nodded and they waited for only a second before Jean spoke up. "Thank you for the rescue but we are going down now to help the rest." Eren nodded and listened again as he heard Armin's whistle. Two long whistles, three short. Levi was on the Forecastle Deck.

Eren ran to the end of the Quarter Deck and peered over in horror to see Levi surrounded by 25 men. He was backed up to the railing only just barely holding off all their swords trying to plunge through his heart. Eren was going to lose Levi. Eren was going to lose his new home before he even joined it. Eren was going to lose his mate.

Eren began to feel his skin boil. Every part of his body was pulsing his commanding pheromone. He could no longer control it. Eren felt as the air around him began to electrify and spark. Eren let out a roar and the world seemed to stop moving.

POV- LEVI

Levi felt the most adrenaline he had ever felt in his life coarsening throughout his body. Another ship had crashed into them. Levi and his crew had just started to turn the battle in their favor as the next ship crashed into his. Levi watched in horror as another ungodly amount of RMP soldiers began to pour into the ship. His heart sank with the realization that even if they somehow miraculously made it through this night, no doubt many of his men and women will have fallen. His thoughts drifted to Eren. Fear sparked through him. He had to make sure Eren was safe. Levi watched as 20 more men ran up to the quarter deck where he was currently fighting off five other men. "Tch.. the bastards just don't give up," Levi spat. He was being pushed back towards the railing. He had to get out of his current position but how? Levi had just about made the decision to jump into the water and climb back up on the other side of the ship as he heard a roar echo through the ship.

The air was suddenly charged with an electric current and what felt like Eren's pheromones surrounded all three ships. Levi had never felt Eren's pheromones like this. He had to surround himself with his own pheromone to stop himself from dropping to his knees. Levi watched as all the members of his crew fell to the ground on their knees and the Alpha RMP soldiers lowered their weapons and began walking toward the Quarter Deck. Levi watched in a mixture of horror and awe as Eren started mutilating all the RMP officers as they came close enough to him. Eren seemed to almost be floating. He made his way towards the main deck and the RMP officers surrounded him seeming unable to move.

Levi started running towards Eren. He noticed as he came closer to Eren that he was surrounded by an electric field. Eren's once green eyes were glowing gold staring down at the RMP officers that now surrounded him. Levi watched as Eren tilted his head to the side and all the RMP officers lifted their swords and plunged them through their hearts. They all fell instantly having taken their own lives without even hesitation. Levi ran up to Eren just as Mikasa reached him. She was yelling trying to calm him down. "Eren! Eren, please its me Mikasa, They're dead, Eren! Please stop! Calm down Eren!" Eren seemed unable to hear her. Levi put his hand on her shoulder and Mikasa whipped around blade drawn but lowered it upon seeing Levi. "Mikasa, let me try," Levi said quietly.

"Eren?" Levi began. Levi watched as Eren whipped towards him glowing. "Eren, it's me Levi. We're all safe now, Eren." Levi watched as the field around Eren started to dissipate. Levi walked over and reached out for Eren watching as his eyes flicked back and forth from gold to green. As Levi pulled Eren into his arms, he watched as Eren's eyes finally stayed green. "Le..vi…" Eren choked out. "yo..u're…s..afe.." "Yes, Eren. Everything is okay," Levi said. He felt a sigh of relief leave Eren until Levi listened in horror as he heard every bone in Eren's body break. Every joint in Eren's body seemed to pop out of place and he seemed to begin steaming. Eren's face contorted into pain and he began to scream until he fell unconscious.