Author's Note
Rated T for swearing
For Eren's sake, I had to prove my ability to control him, so that the Military Police wouldn't take him. Erwin suggested that if, at the right moment, I beat Eren up and subdued him, then Zackley would grant us rights over Eren's life. So that's exactly what I did. Beating up Eren wasn't nearly as heartbreaking as when I first met him in this "life", because I just treated it as part of our "game".
In our 67th and 49th "lives" I also had to beat him up, once because I was a hired mercenary and the other because our master's daughter fell in love with him.
Aah, I remember that that time when I was a hired mercenary, Eren was the son of a wealthy Duke. Because Eren had received more inheritance than his ill-tempered older brother, I was hired to wipe him out. I was going to escape with him, but when we realised that we were being spied on, I beat him up to gain the brother's trust. I convinced him that it was a better idea to keep Eren alive for the time being, a month after which Eren's brother died in an "accident". That was a good "life"…Eren and I played our "game" that whole "life", and even though we were never officially recognised as a couple, we spent the rest of our lives together.
Now that I think about it, Eren has never beaten me up. Though he did kill me…only once, I think. And another time I died trying to save him, when we were attacked by bandits in our 70th "life", where we were travelling merchants.
Compared to what we had been through in our past "lives", beating Eren up was nothing. I'm sure that being beaten up also wasn't much for Eren to withstand, especially if I consider how much he must already be suffering because of his power. If they're going to call him a monster, then I am also a freak who has memories going back 4000 years. I will definitely save Eren, and take him away from all these bastards who treat him like a villain.
Having said all that, it's not as if I felt no heartache or guilt at beating Eren up. However, the circumstances prevented me from properly apologising to him. If people suspect that we actually knew each other, they might not trust my judgment, or they might even take him away from me. The most I could do was try and ask discreetly and round-aboutly,
"Eren, do you resent me?"
"No, I- I understand why it was necessary."
With this, I was relieved. Eren said exactly the same thing when I had to beat him up on our master's orders before. Though I knew he would understand, I'm still glad that he forgives me.
"That's good."
Now that Eren can finally leave his cell, I'm sure we can eventually find a chance to stop our "game" without beckoning suspicion. I have so much that I want to talk about and ask about…
Finally, I have found Eren in this "life".