AN:
Don't forget to REVIEW and FOLLOW to keep up to date with the story and to just leave some feedback, even if you're just going to say something really simple.
As said last week there is a certain clash between two characters…
Chapter 9 – Over the Edge
Al ran a hand through his hair, adjusting the set of files beneath his arm. He had been carrying the stack of files and searching for Levi for the past twenty minutes and there had been nothing. 'Dammit, where the hell can one guy be?' Al thought in frustration, 'So much for showing a sign of good faith when you can't find them?' He entered the drawing room and looked up to see Mikasa. She was staring out of the window and turned to stare at him.
"...Hi, Alphonse…" She stated, giving him a dark glare.
"Hey, Mikasa… Say, have you seen Levi anywhere?" Al sighed out, looking around.
"No, I haven't. Why?" She asked suspiciously, giving the faintest hint of a shrug.
Al sighed as he pulled out the stack of reports from beneath his arm, "Well, I got all of these and I was hoping that I could have given those back to him…"
Mikasa shrugged absently, giving him a blank stare "I could hand them over for you if you want…"
Al blinked in surprise, "Oh, right, well...thanks I guess…" Al nodded as he placed the reports down onto the table and pushed them towards her. After a brief pause, he breathed out and said, "I guess I should apologise… Firstly, for the whole-trying-to-kill-you- and-Sasha-thing at the church, then the …'incident'... on the walls and also for Jay… I mean, it's been pretty rocky…"
Mikasa's eyes widened in surprise and her expression softened slightly, "Honestly...It really doesn't matter now…"
"Well at least one less thing on my mind to worry about" Al sighed in relief. "Anyway, I was wondering if-"
At that moment, Eren stormed in, scowling and looking around. He looked at Mikasa and then to Al, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Eren, is something wrong?" Mikasa asked, taking a couple steps toward Eren.
Eren shook his head quickly, "It's nothing… What's going on?"
Al gave a half-shrug and gestured to the reports, "Just handing over the reports...Why? You need anything?"
Eren glanced at him. 'Just what the hell are you up to?' He thought as he shook his head. "It's nothing… It doesn't matter…" He remarked as he began to walk out, not looking back. 'Besides…' Eren thought, 'I highly doubt you of all people would want to know…'
"Oh hey, Eren!"
Eren turned around to see Dante grinning at him whilst dragging a large bucket filled with coils of wire. Eren curtly nodded, trying to avoid the sight and fixed him with an annoyed stare.
"Hey Dante…" He muttered, "Have you seen Jay anywhere?"
Dante let go of the bucket and sighed, "Oh, this really does a number on your back…" He groaned as stretched his arms over his head. Finally he looked at Eren, a wide smile on his face, "I'm sorry, what was that?"
"I said…" Eren repeated, his patience already beginning to wear thin, "Have you seen Jay?"
Dante blinked before taking his hat off and running his hand through his hair, "Well, that is a good question. I mean, anyone would ask that about anyone but still I-"
Dante paused as he saw Eren beginning to scowl. Finally Dante sighed and put his hat back on. "The basement… He's in the basement… But seriously though… Would you please help a guy out here. These buckets are surprisingly heavy….Wait… Eren! Where are you going?! Did you even hear me?!" Dante called out as Eren began to storm down to the basement, his hands balled into fists and trembling with rage.
Jay furiously punched a wooden stand in the training basement, each punch getting harder and faster than the last.
THWACK!
'Reject...'
THWACK!
'once an outsider, always an outsider'
THWACK!
'Outcast...'
THWACK!
"Black sheep of the family'
Jay tensed up and gritted his teeth as he swung his fist with all of his strength.
CRACK!
Jay took a half-step back in surprise as half of the wooden stand had broken off and clattered onto the floor. He stared at the broken wood on the floor, breathing heavily. 'Crap...Al's not going to be happy about that…' He took a deep breath and massaged his hand which was now beginning to throb.
'Well... the good thing about being a black sheep is that I show less dirt...' Jay allowed something that that could resemble a small smile to himself as he threw the broken wooden stand to the side and walked over to his bag. 'Working to gain their trust, huh?' Jay thought as he made his way to his bag and fumbled around inside, 'At least I'm trying to protect us from being killed in the process...bloody hypocrites...what's the point in them getting to trust us if they're going to end up... They may not like it but that's how it's got to be...' Jay took a swig from his water flask and stared out to the wall, leaning against the workbench with his gear sitting on top. 'Still though...It's not as if our job was to become best friends, now was it…' Jay tore his gaze away as he reached for his towel.
Jay wiped his forehead with his towel and was about to reach for his gear until he heard heavy quick footsteps coming down the stairs. He turned his head sharply and fixed the staircase with a glare. Suddenly, Eren stormed down and glared back at him, his eyes full of bitter hatred that Jay knew all too well. Jay rolled his eyes and sighed with annoyance, "...Listen, Eren, I'm not in the mood, alright…"
"What the hell do you think you're doing!" Eren spat out with fury, red with rage, "Huh?...Answer me!"
Jay sighed and rolled his head," Did you hit your head or something to be this stupid? What are you on about?" he asked in annoyance, eyeing the hot headed teenager in front of him.
"Shut up…" Eren growled, "I heard about what you did to my friends. You have no right to try and go after them...You hear me, you have NO RIGHT!"
Earlier
Eren knocked on Armin's door and waited outside. He heard the sound of a key being inserted into a lock and twisting. The door finally opened and Armin peered through from the gap.
"Hey, why is your door locked?" Eren asked as he walked into the room as Armin shut the door behind him.
"It's nothing…" Armin admitted quickly before turning to Eren, "Anyway, was there something you need?"
Eren sat down in a nearby chair and lowered his head, "I'm just wondering…" He said slowly, pausing to find the right words, "Did you...find anything that could give us an advantage over these guys?"
Armin blinked and didn't say a word.
"I mean…Jayden...well… that's another thing and the other two seem alright. But Alphonse told us something which was kind of worrying. They act as Erwin's personal squad. When something goes wrong, they're sent in to 'fix it'. But the problem is what if they're all the same. They're all ruthless who killed God knows how many… And when push comes to shove...Who knows what could happen?…"
Armin swallowed. 'He has no idea what happened...No one told him. The others are that scared…' He thought.
"Well…" He began shakily. "Maybe you're...overreacting?" Eren looked up at him, his face creased in confusion, "What I'm suggesting…" Armin continued, "...Is that maybe...we should just give each other space...that's all…"
Eren stayed silent for what felt like hours, "...What happened?..." He asked slowly.
Armin gave a violent shudder and Eren easily noticed it. "What...happened…?" Eren asked slowly. Armin quickly shook his head and began to get up, "It's nothing-"
"Armin...What...Happened?…" Eren demanded as he stood in Armin's way. Armin stared at Eren before sighing and began to speak.
Jay rubbed his eyelids. This was the last thing he wanted or even deserved. People come up to him to pick a fight and he seemed to be the one always to blame for problems like these. But should he actually try and fight back for Eren's sake. He should just ignore him. 'No' he thought, 'Eren needed to be taught a lesson, just need to break down his pride first'
"Well..." Jay said flatly, picking up his wooden training swords and slowly walking up to him. "Go on...What are you going to do then?"
Eren faltered for a second as he took a half step back. 'Bet you weren't expecting that, weren't you?' Jay thought to himself but still kept a straight face as he stared blankly at him. After a couple seconds, Eren shook his head and took a step forward. "Don't test me…don't you dare try..." Eren said aloud, failing to keep his anger down.
"What, you weren't expecting this?" Jay asked, unfazed, "If you think, I'm going to point an actual sword at you then you're sorely mistaken...I have no intention whatsoever of killing you...but that doesn't mean that I'll beat you into the dirt…" Eren stared at Jay, burning with rage but instead clenched his jaw. Jay blinked, his head tilted in curiosity, '...Let's see if he actually does it now…' he thought. "What? Nothing...How disappointing…" Jay sneered as he turned his back on him and began to walk off.
'We'll see about that after I'm done with you!' Eren thought savagely as he rushed forward and began to take a swing. 'And there it is…' Jay thought as he turned sharply and swung out. The wooden sword connected solidly with Eren's jaw with a loud crack causing him to stagger onto the floor. Jay tutted as he shook his head, causing Eren to be even more irritated.
"I expected better…" Jay mumbled in mock disappointment in his voice.
"What!? Too much of a coward to fight me without your swords!" Eren snarled, trying to get the upper hand.
'It's a fact that he could beat me at hand to hand' Jay considered, 'Like hell I'm actually going to give you that chance…'
"What? Too stupid to pull off a simple surprise attack?" Jay asked calmly. There was no mocking tone in his voice but that was enough to aggravate Eren
'Damn you! DAMN YOU!' Eren felt a thought scream out as he swung to uppercut Jay. Jay backed away and Eren threw a fast left hook. Jay swung out with one hand, one sword connecting with Eren's wrist sharply and the other smacking him in his side. Eren staggered back, gritting his teeth as his arm and side began to sting with pain.
'Let's see what you can do up close…" Jay thought as he lazily swung out. Eren ducked under swiftly and threw a quick overhead punch. Jay lowered his stance and swung out with a left hook, blocking Eren's punch and smacking Eren in the shoulder and the chest. Eren staggered backwards and suddenly, like a snake posed to attack, Jay brought his left hand out from behind his back and shot it out, his palm connecting sharply with his chin. Eren's teeth clacked together audibly as he felt himself getting knocked back and landing hard on his back against the mat. Eren growled in pain and annoyance as one hand went to his jaw and the other hand was still gripping his sword. Jay let out a sigh and continued to tap out the rhythm behind his back as he slowly began to encircle him.
"Well, come on Yeager...get up…" Jay stated coldly, looking away from his opponent and staring blankly at a shining set of armour set up against the wall. "...Get up, Yeager…" his voice a little louder.
"PUT DOWN THE DAMN SWORDS AND FIGHT ME LIKE A MAN, YOU PIECE OF SCUM!" Eren roared out, glaring at Jay. "WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!?"
"...Good question… You're right...Let's make things a little more interesting…" Jay spoke as he reached for the workbench and pulled out a pair of sharpened metal swords. Eren's eyes widened as Jay strode up to him and he flinched at Jay brought them down. Jay slammed the swords down just a metre in front of Eren, a loud high-pitched sound pierced the air.
"What are you doing!?" Eren demanded, not taking his eyes of the blades as Jay took a couple steps back.
"I'm giving you a choice. Pick up the blades and fight me or just give up and walk out of here with your pride intact…"
Eren stared at Jay, his eyes wide with shock. "Are you insane!?"
Jay drummed out a quick regular pattern behind his back, his attention to a suit of armour standing up next to the wall, 'Hmm...You just realised that now…'
"You heard what I said…" Jay stated dully, "Pick up the swords…"
"I'm not playing your game, you freak!" Eren spat out with disgust.
"Why not?" Jay asked tilting his head. Eren spluttered out in shock and was quickly replaced with anger. "You got a death wish!? You want me to kill you that badly?!"
Jay glared at Eren, his patience wearing thin. "What I want is you to take the smart option and leave. But clearly, you are too stupid to realise it…"
Eren pushed himself slowly, getting himself onto one knee. "Why...are you doing this!?" He roared out.
Jay suddenly swung out. His sword hit Eren beneath the jaw and sent him sprawling onto his back, crying out as sharp pain shot up his skull.
"Because you're a liability to us!" Jay seethed out, swinging out and striking Eren's elbow as he was slowly beginning to get up. Eren swore in pain as he fell onto his side and began to shuffle away, gritting his teeth in pain.
"You're going to be the reason why humanity will be wiped out by the Titans!" Jay's voice began to rise as he swung again, this time, hitting Eren's knees with a loud CRACK! He growled out in pain as he tensed up and continued to edge away from Jay, his jaw clenched and his eyes fixed to the ground, trying to shut out Jay's taunts.
"But most of all, you're a damn coward who'll end up killing the rest of us." Mikasa! Armin! They'll all be dead because of you because you're a whiny brat who can't do anything right! So prove me wrong and TAKE! YOUR! PICK!" Jay roared out as he continued to beat Eren with every word.
Instantly, Eren yelled out as reached for the swords pinned into the ground. As his fingers curled around the handle of the blade, he sprang to his feet and slashed upwards. Jay dodged to the side lazily as if he had all the time in the world.
"TALK ABOUT THEM AGAIN! I DARE YOU!" Eren screamed out, lunging forward in anger, his sword extending out. Jay tilted his head to the side, the blade missing him wildly. Effortlessly, Jay wrapped his arm around Eren's elbow and threw his training sword at Eren's jaw. Eren's head whipped back as the sword dropped from his grasp. Jay casually caught it and slammed the hilt against his gut. Eren doubled over in pain, grunting loudly as he staggered back. Jay seized him roughly by the shirt and flipped him over his shoulder and kicked out behind him. His foot caught Eren in the side and sent him flying and crashing into the nearby suit of armour.
Al's and Mikasa's head perked up as they heard a loud crash coming from the basement. It was loud and metallic and rang out in the room.
"What the hell?" Al breathed out as he rushed out of the room and looked out into the corridor. He turned his head to see Dante dragging a large bucket filled with coils of wire whistling to himself. "Hey! Dante! Who's downstairs?"
"Oh, just Jay… He's training, why?" Dante noted, not looking at them as he continued to drag the bucket along
"Great...Jay's having his tantrum again," Al sighed aloud, rubbing his forehead in annoyance as Mikasa walked up beside him.
"...Oh and I think Eren went there as well..." Dante added.
Mikasa froze instantly, "Why? Why did he go there?" She asked quickly, beginning to fear the worst.
"I don't know… He looked really pissed, that's a fact…" Al and Mikasa glanced at each other, pure horror written on their faces. "Anyway can you guys help?" Dante continued, "This thing is actually heavier than it-"
But before he could say anything else, Al and Mikasa had already begun sprinting towards the basement. Dante watched them go in disbelief and shook his head, 'Why, thank you Dante, you're so helpful...No problem you two, happy to help…" Dante mimicked sourly as he continued to drag the bucket across the corridor.
Jay first glanced at Eren lying on the floor then inspected the sword in his hands, pointing it out and giving it a couple of swings.
"Disgusting... Your sword fighting is pathetic...What would Alistair say?…" Jay tossed the sword down to Eren, sending it clattering in front of him. "Now get up!"
Eren plucked the sword from the ground and pushed himself onto his feet, his back still throbbing from when he was sent crashing into the suit of armour. He gritted his teeth as he stared at Jay's face. 'Completely unreadable' Eren thought as he encircled Jay slowly, 'There's nothing, whatsoever.'
'To think this maniac actually couldn't stop himself…' Jay thought, a part of him couldn't help but feel surprise and awe. 'Well… let's give him a chance then…'
Eren swung out quickly. Jay's eyes flicked lazily to the blade, knowing that he could counter it too easily but stepped back, the blade missing him by inches. Eren repeatedly swung out, only for Jay to back away and the blades to miss him by inches.
'He's backing away' Eren realised as he kept on attacking, noticing Jay slowly edging back to the table with his gear. 'I can easily trap him and finish him off'. Eren kept lunging and attacking as Jay kept stepping back away from striking distance, apparently unaware that very slowly, he was being back into a corner. Soon enough, Jay's elbow brushed against the workbench, his eyes flickering to what was behind him for a brief second.
'Here's my chance!' Eren thought savagely as he swung out in an arc, preventing him from moving around.
Suddenly, Jay reached behind him to his gear where his swords were. He quickly reached for the handles, pulled them smoothly out of their sheaths and slashed out, batting Eren's swords away and completely exposing him to any attack. Jay lowered one of the sword and flicked his wrist upwards, ejecting the blade and sending it spinning upwards. Eren leaned back just in time before the blade could slice his jaw in half. He tore his eyes away from the blade spinning in the air just in time to see Jay close the gap between the two, Jay stepped forward and clapped the two handles together against the sides of Eren's head, discombobulating him. Eren's hands went to his head but soon after, Jay's elbow collided with his nose, sending him staggering back, blood pouring from his nose and falling to the ground. Jay leapt in the air, caught the blade and sent his swords crashing down on him.
Eren stared blankly at the blade embedded in the ground just centimetres away from his face. He swallowed in shock and hesitantly turned his head to his right. The handle of his sword was just an inch from his fingertips and Jay's other blade had pinned it directly into the ground. At that moment, Eren realised that he was holding his breath but before he could even breathe out. He saw Jay looming over him to pluck the swords out from the ground. 'Here's my chance…' Eren thought as he pushed himself and began to swing out. Jay's head snapped into his direction and his hand blurred, grabbing Eren roughly by the wrist. He yanked him forward and Jay's knee connected audibly with Eren's chest. Eren's eyes flew open as he collapsed onto the floor, his arms wrapped around his chest and the veins bulging from of his neck as struggled to breathe. Jay reached down, roughly grabbed him by the shirt and lifted him up.
"Listen well, Yeager, because I won't repeat myself again. I sincerely couldn't give a crap about your pride, I don't even care if you don't like me. You and your friends brought this on yourselves! Not me! I gave you a chance to leave. I gave you a chance to back off! You just kept on persisting! I'm won't kill you but next time, I'll beat you senseless! Do you understand me!?" He yelled out, shaking Eren violently and causing him to wheeze and splutter out in pain.
As soon as he was finished, he saw Al and Mikasa rush down the stairs. Jay cursed and threw Eren down and plucked the swords from the ground. Mikasa eyes scanned over to Eren as they widened in horror as she saw the blood on his face and him clutching at his chest. Instantly, she rushed over to where Eren was to check if he was alright. Al gritted his teeth and grabbed Jay by the collar.
"Jay!" Al yelled in his face, "THAT'S ENOUGH! This has to stop! This is under my roof that you're doing this completely mindless crap and you better stop or I will gladly put a bullet in you. If that doesn't work I will beat you senseless and drag you right to Erwin and see to it that you get court-martialed!".
Jay batted Al's arms away and pushed him back tilted his head to the side, his expression that of curiosity, as if to ask 'You're joking, right?' . "Really? When he threw the first attack and I only reacted! You're out of your damn mind!" Jay sneered in anger.
Mikasa stood up and began to storm up to Jay. Al cursed and extended an arm out to stop her from getting any closer to Jay. "What is wrong with you!?" Mikasa yelled at him, "What happened to your 'orders'!? You were going to kill him!"
"Don't be stupid! It was all under control. Too bad I can't say the same for you or his friends." Jay turned away, sighing in annoyance as he ran his hand through his hair, trying to control his anger.
"What the hell are you trying to say!?" Mikasa spat out, infuriated.
Jay turned to face her, the savageness of the tone of his voice and his glare was almost frightening. "I'm saying that I'm surprised he'll last a few seconds without his friends to constantly save him again and again. He's humanity's only hope and he can't even fare on his own in a simple swordfight? Let's face it! Eren won't be able to use his titan ability all the time so fighting with weapons is his last resort and he couldn't even get that right...And don't get me started with you!"
"You have no right to-" Mikasa blurted out but was interrupted instantly
"I have no right!?You're his sister for crying out loud! Answer me this question! When was the last goddamn time you actually took it upon yourself to train him? You came 1st in your training division while he came 5th. It also happened to say that this idiot was at first unable to fully use his gear. He was a 'lackluster in the classroom' and only 'marginally better on field'-."
"For goodness sake, Jay! There is a MAJOR difference between skill in theory and skill in battle. YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS!" Al argued out
"You've read them. Tell me any time if what I've just mentioned isn't what it says on his!" Jay remarked coldly as he kept his gaze fixed on Eren and Mikasa. Al remained silent and gritted his teeth.
"While that was happening, you didn't even help him with that… Now tell me...Who's really hurting our chances to fight back against the titans?"
Mikasa's eyes were narrowed in annoyance, "Don't start with our chances against the titans! It has nothing to do with this!"
Jay grunted, giving her a dark abysmal stare. "You're right. A better question would be what would you prioritise first? Eren or the mission?" He snapped, clenching his jaw and his fists. Mikasa gave a violent start and took a half step back.
"Jay!? What the hell!?" Al began, shocked. Mikasa froze, staring at Jay in shock. Even Eren was horrified as he glanced at Mikasa with worry.
"Or better yet…" Jay continued, "Who would you sacrifice if it meant the survival of humanity? Eren or Armin?"
'Nonono, don't do this! Just don't…' Al thought in sick anticipation as he glanced at Mikasa's and Eren's horror-struck faces.
"Well go on… Eren or Armin? It's a simple question. It's one or the other!" Jay stated firmly.
"Leave her out of this…"
All of their heads turned to see Eren wheezing out as he slowly tried to push himself up but failed, staring at Jay and shaking his head slowly. All of the rage had gone from his eyes and was instead just pleading Jay to stop "...Just leave her out of this…Just don't..."
"Eren or Armin?" Or maybe your entire squad even…That'd be pretty interesting to find out..." Jay continued, rolling his eyes, ignoring Eren.
Mikasa was completely taken aback by what Jay had said, the entire room was silent and thick with tension. She was about to say something but stopped. Jay's head tilted slightly, noticing that she was hesitating. Al looked from them and then to Jay, struggling to hold in his anger.
"Jay...Get the hell upstairs now…That's an order..." Al seethed out. Jay stared at him for a moment then grunted in annoyance as he stormed out. Al let out an exasperated sigh and looked over to Eren, "...Hey, how you holding up?
"...How do you think I'm holding up?..." Eren groaned out.
Al turned around and knelt down to Eren's eye level, "Well, choosing to face Jay in a swordfight isn't the smartest life choice you can make. But hey, you seemed to fare better than most. Most people would either be dead or critically injured." Al got up and brushed down his knees, "We better get you to the infirmary to be on the safe side," And with that, he pulled Eren up onto his feet and led Mikasa and Eren out.
'Just what the hell is Al thinking!?' Jay stormed down the corridor, fuming with rage. 'He honestly think this friend crap would work. Especially against the Senator! They approached me, attacked me and I only responded. I'm not the enemy here! So why are they so damn adamant to not see the real threat here! They can't get their priorities right. They're as good as dead!'
Jay turned around the corner and saw Dante hauling a bucket of coiled wires across the corridor. Jay stopped dead in his tracks and stared at Dante, his brain trying to register the sight in front of him. "...Dante, just what the hell are you-" Jay began.
Dante's head snapped in his direct, a crazed look on his face and his hair a mess beneath his fedora. Jay blinked, not knowing what to expect.
"NO! NO! Don't you dare say anything! Just help me!" Dante suddenly snapped at him.
"...What?" Jay asked with uncertainty.
"Help! Me!" Dante shouted out, his lower jaw trembling.
"...Why?..." Jay asked, knowing full well that he was going to regret it.
"Help me get these buckets to Sasha's and Connie's rooms! I'm so close-"
"No, you're not" Jay cut him short.
"Wait, what?" Dante stared at Jay in confusion.
"Their rooms are on the other side of the mansion…" Jay added on.
Dante set his bucket down and stared at Jay, his face was twitching slightly.
"...You'll be ok?" Jay asked smoothly. Dante only responded with a very curt nod.
"...You need any help?" Jay asked again. Dante only responded with a quick shake of the head.
"...Bye..." Jay turned around and walked off, leaving Dante alone, trembling and sniffling.
AN:
The whole recurring Dante and the bucket will be explained next chapter; it's part of his plan for something.
The Eren and Jay fight sure was great. Well. If you find a one sided fight great that is but nonetheless it was quite a start for relations between Eren and Jay to say the very least, it'll develop more as the story goes on.
Next chapter will be more focused on developing character relationships between the several characters and further showing more aspects of the GSC in some interesting discussions.
Till next week then. Enjoy.