Those Three Words

Summary: All the three word phrases Eren and Levi said to/about each other as their relationship changes and gives them a whole new meaning.

4. I'm with you! (Female Titan chase) (Eren) (Eren POV)

Eren couldn't believe that the Captain was letting so many of their comrades die as the Female Titan chased them through the Forest of Giant Trees when he was perfectly capable of turning into a Titan and fighting that thing head on. But his orders were that he mustn't transform on this expedition unless his life was in danger and there was no other option and even then, he needs explicit permission from one of his seniors before he's allowed to do it. It was bullshit. Complete and utter bullshit!

But Squad Levi kept asking for his trust, kept asking if he doubted them, if he didn't believe them capable to protect him and all Eren had to do to start doubting his own convictions was to catch a glimpse of the fading teeth marks on any of their hands from where they had bitten themselves after the spoon incident was explained away as an accident. They had done it to apologize for how they had acted, for their lack of faith and trust in him, as a promise to do better by him as his squad. Eren had never been more touched by such a weird gesture in his life so just a glimpse of it had him internally freaking out about disrespecting the trust they had decided to put in him, the fact that they had started looking at him as their hope for a better chance at defeating Titans and not the monster that some other soldiers called him. They had even taken to defending him against others who made cruel remarks!

Eren didn't want to spit in the face of their trust, their faith, their hopes.

But he also couldn't just sit there and watch as innocent, loyal, brave soldiers lost their lives to that monster chasing them. Not when he knew she was after him. Enough people have lost lives for his sake and he didn't want a single Scout to add to that number after the tragedy of Trost.

So he raised his hand to his mouth, preparing to bite, making the rest of the squad become more frantic in trying to earn his trust, as if he didn't already trust them with his life despite what his soon-to-be actions might suggest, when the Captain spoke up.

"Feel free to do it," he said, confusing everyone, stunning them into silence. Eren was sure he was positively gawking at the man now, completely forgetting about the Female Titan chasing them or the deaths he'd just witnessed that he was sure he could have prevented. "It's clear to me. He's a true monster," the man said and the way he said it was the only thing stopping Eren from feeling hurt at the thought of someone whom he respects so much calling him the same insult as everyone else does. "And not because of his Titan abilities." Eren was sure everyone was staring at their Captain now, probably unable to comprehend where this was going. "No matter how you try to hold him down. No matter what cage you lock him up in. Forcing his mind into submission is an impossible task."

'Captain, what...?'

"Eren," he perked up at being directly addressed. "The difference between your decisions and ours arises from the gap in experience. But you see, you don't need to depend on such a thing. Decide," the Captain all but commanded, never once turning to look at the teen he was speaking to. "Either believe in yourself, or the soldiers of the Survey Corps, myself included."

Ere gulped at that, guilt washing over him anew as he remembered the trust Captain Levi had displayed in him when he protected him from his very own hand-picked squad.

"I don't know the right answer. I never did," confessed Humanity's Strongest, further stunning his squad. "So I can't tell you what is right and what is wrong. No one can. You can never know whether a choice is the right one, so you should do your best to make choices you won't regret later."

And after everything, after all that he'd seen and experienced in such a short time with these people, well ...

"Quickly, Eren! Decide already!" Captain Levi commanded, turning to look at him for the first time since this topic was opened.

Eren only saw one answer when faced with a choice presented to him by Humanity's Strongest, his protector and executioner.

"I'm with you!"

It's a choice he both will and will never regret.