So, long time no update. I'm having tests til Levi's birthday (Dec 24th), due to that, I won't be able to post more chapters til then. Sorry.
Have a great December.
With Armin's plan, they managed to get the gas. Most of the trainees left right away.
Mikasa, Armin, Jean, Reiner's team stayed behind.
Just a moment ago, the Rogue titan was being eaten, they were about to help it, but it found its own way and killed the surrounding titans.
"Who do you say needs helping again?" - Jean asked Mikasa.
They watched it intensely, almost with no blink.
After defeating the others, it felt down. Steam started coming out.
There was a small sound of ripped skin. Mikasa stared at the steam.
A blurry figure appeared.
Everyone else was still eyes wide open, not knowing what it was yet.
There was only one person realized.
Mikasa shot her hook to the opposite building and swung to the steam.
She heard her name being called due to her reckless action. But she didn't care at all.
She landed on the steaming body and ran to the titan's neck.
She hugged the figure the moment she found it.
She hugged it so tightly, not giving a fuck about the burning heat.
"Eren!"
She cried as small tears started flowing. She laid her head on his chest.
His heartbeat was really slow, but at least it was still there.
"You're ...alive..."
She sobbed, held him as tight as possible.
Armin ran from behind, checking Eren's leg and arm, burst into tears as well.
They were just happy Eren was still alive.
They didn't care why he was in this titan body.
The other trainees, Jean, Annie, Reiner and Bertholdt, stared in confusion and fright.
Eren opened his eyes.
Armin was kneeling next to him. Behind them was the wall.
In front of them was about hundred soldiers, a tall man with frightening face, and a glassed white-haired woman.
"Why...are they looking at me with those eyes..." - Eren fully regained his consciousness.
"Don't move!" - The man shouted. "Or we'll kill you!"
Mikasa stood on a rooftop nearby, watching the boys.
She heard the old man yelling at Eren non-stop, asking if he was human or titan.
"Ridiculous." - She thought.
She wanted to give that man a punch, but she knew she could not.
Small sound of horses walking got her attention. She looked far away, seeing a horse cart, with many soldiers around, some with green capes, some with white-horse-labelled jacket.
"Must be ...Dot Pixis." - She made a guess, since only that man had such control, to both Scouting Legion and Military Police.
She learnt about that man before joining the Training corps. With his personality, he would be likely to save Eren for bigger plans.
But his cart was still far away. She needed to buy some time.
Finally, an excuse she could use if her "boss" snapped at her recklessness.
She got into her position, set the 3DMG to place.
"Wait, Mikasa, don't say you will get into that mess." - Jean, standing next to her, gasped.
She ignored his words, shot the gear and quickly landed in front of Eren and Armin.
"Stay back." - She said while getting her blades out.
"Mikasa, what are you doing?!" - Eren shouted in confusion.
"Move away or I'll kill you too!" - The old man got angry.
"Sir, that's Mikasa. She's worth 100 soldiers. It's humanity huge loss to kill her." - The glassed woman said.
"Like I care! Soldiers!"
The surrounding soldiers got their blades out with trembling hands.
Totally contrast to her.
She held the blades tightly, her face showed no fear, only a fierce murderous-looking eyes.
"My specialty is slicing up flesh. If anyone wants me to demonstrate, step forward."
Her words gave a chill to everyone.
The commander bit his teeth, raised his arm up.
"We'll fire the canon!"
The kids widened their eyes.
Mikasa felt a sudden touch on her waist. Eren'd grabbed her, then bit his hand.
An explosion happened. Steam was everywhere. A titan body, no, to be correct, a titan skeleton appeared.
Mikasa and Armin sat in its stomach.
"What is this?" - She looked around.
"Eren..." - Armin was shaking.
The brunette ran from the skull down.
"Are you guys alright?!" - He asked.
"Eren!" - Mikasa yelled, attempted to hug him, but stopped half way. "What is this?"
"I don't know myself. "
Eren paused, seemed like remembering something.
"My dad...he gave me this key and injected me with a medicine... Could it be..." - He said.
"Your dad? So your dad has secrets about titan abilities that mankind doesn't know?" - Mikasa asked.
"Probably. Fuck this old man! Knowing such important secrets yet kept it for himself! Fuck, fuck!"
"So...if I remember correct, this key is for your basement?"
"Yeah..."
"If we reach your basement, there's a chance to wipe out the titans?"
"I think so. I'll head back!"
"With what? Your home is Titan's base now. I'll come with you."
"No! You don't have to. You don't need to risk your life for me! I'm not your brother or fami-"
He stopped. She stared at him for a second, then turned back to Armin.
"You've been quiet. Any plans? We only have few seconds before the canon is ready again." - She asked.
"I do...but..."
"Then do it." - She placed her hand on his. "I trust you."
"We trust you." - Eren added.
"What if I screw up, then we are all going to die! " - The blond boy shivered.
"No matter what happen, we're still together. That's good enough." - She gently smiled.
"If you didn't call Hannes that day, I would have died. I believe in you." - Eren said.
Armin finally, had the courage. His friends' trust gave him the courage.
"I'll do it. I'll convince them to use your power for humanity good." - The blond said.
"That's a good plan. " - Eren said.
Then Armin walked out, did a salute and talked about his plan.
While inside, Eren was sitting next to Mikasa.
"Hey Mikasa."
"Huh?"
"Why risked your life to save me?"
"I didn't. I only did it because of my mission. Your power is still a mystery."
"You didn't act like it was only a duty."
"There's...Armin. I don't want him to die because of you." - She quickly denied.
"I'll pretend to believe that." - He smiled.
The couple held their breath looking at Armin.
As Mikasa guessed, Pixis arrived, seemed interested in Armin's plan and agreed.
Mikasa sighed in relief.
The plan was announced to proceed right away.
The plan, as Armin explained, was to use Eren's new ability to lift a big rock and block the hole of the wall.
Not too complicated, but Eren was still new to this ability.
She was afraid he might fail, more important, if he did, he would get himself killed.
Mikasa walked along with the boys, then they saw a blond man with a big smile.
"Eren, Armin!"
Eren gave a signal asking the man to return to duty, a slight hello smile and continued on walking right away.
Armin quickly gave a wave and followed Eren.
"Must be Hannes, the drunk man..." - Mikasa thought, recalled what Eren had told her about his past during their time at the training corps.
A team was assigned to protect Eren. Though not an experienced soldier, Mikasa was added to the team, considered her strength, courage and bonds with the boy.
"Hey Mikasa."
Eren suddenly called out for Mikasa while she was setting her 3DMG.
"Yes?" - She answered , eyes still focus on the belts that she was fixing
"Do you see me as a monster?"
Mikasa stopped. She froze at his words.
It was a straight-forward question, that she herself couldn't find the correct answer.
"Why you're asking?"
"Because everybody else does. Even I am afraid of myself. Everything, this freaking weird power, how can anybody not?!"
She cupped his face with her hand. She didn't know why she did that. She did it instinctively somehow.
"You're not. You, yourself, said you're human not so long ago, didn't you?" - She said.
Her voice was soft, like a voice of angel to his ear. Her gentle touch on his cheek made him calm.
"But ..." - He weakly spoke.
"No but."
She moved her fingers slightly, used her thumb to wipe his bang to the side, which gave her full sight of his face.
"This isn't you. The Eren Jaeger I know is a hot-headed boy, who is brave and determinate. He swore to wipe out all the titans. He believed in himself more than anybody does in him. And - "
She paused, removed her hand of his face.
"I also believe he can do it."
She said, standing up and attempted to leave to hide her embarrassment
He grabbed her arm.
"Uhm...Be safe." - He said awkwardly.
"I will. You too."
Then she left to hear the plans from the leader.
He felt like a weight was lifted off his chest. The weight that a moment ago, he thought could smash him to his death, a weight could break his heart easily.
Yet she lifted it up with such simple words and action.
He gave a thought about what he really saw her as. But he gave up the idea right away, decided to focus on the mission.