As Erwin's fist clenched over his heart, his keen eyes swept over the cadets who had decided to stay. He counted perhaps two dozen of the 104th Cadet Corps members who'd decided to become Scouts, far more than he expected in all honesty. Some years they had less than a dozen members per trainee group, if that, so he was pleased with the turn out. Especially considering his brutally honest speech about their death rates.

Erwin was intrigued. Some were shaking, some even crying, but a large number of them had a spark in their eyes. The same one he'd seen in so many previous veterans.

Scanning the crowd, Erwin's eye was slightly drawn by one boy in particular. His dark hair was long for a boy's, and those green eyes certainly made him stand out. But, more importantly, honing in on the recruit showed he was... smirking slightly. As though he were thrilled rather than shaking with terror at the thought of facing the Titans.

"If you were asked to die, would you do it?"

Erwin caught the boy hardening his face, and openly answering with a loud. "Of course, sir!"

He was slightly surprised by the recruits answer, but didn't let it show. The words might have seemed arrogant at face value, but the conviction with which he stated them was real.

"Well, let's hope that you don't need to. All of you here have worked through your fears, each of you has my respect for that. This is a genuine salute, give your hearts soldiers!" Pressing his fist firmly against his left breast pocket, he gave a respectful salute to all the brave souls who'd decided to join him in the Survey Corps.

When they returned the gesture Erwin noticed a blonde girl with her hair tied back that held a stoic expression. Her salute didn't hold the same anxiety, passion, or drive as her peers. If anything she looked bored, thoroughly disinterested in the situation.

Brushing it off, Erwin let the salute fall as he spoke with finality. "Section Commander Ness will guide all of you to you lodgings, all of you are dismissed. Be up bright and early tomorrow!"

"Sir!" They all responded, before following Ness and not looking back. All except one.

The new Scout, who'd openly stated his willingness to die, approached him and asked with an even tone. "Would it be too much to ask for a minute alone, sir?"

Erwin burrowed his brows, asking neutrally. "And why can't we talk about it here if it's only going to be brief?"

The nearby Levi squad glanced at the two of them, wondering what they were talking about, but the Captain himself narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

Eren responded simply. "Okay, I lied, it won't be brief actually. But, it's important that I tell you. Alone."

The blonde Commander remained largely unconvinced, until Eren suddenly whispered. "It's about the Titan who sealed Trost."

Erwin froze upon hearing those words, but managed to remain stoic as he considered the boy in front of him with caution. There was always the chance that he was simply lying, that what he was suggesting was merely a practical joke, but Erwin was never one to simply ignore him men's requests. In fact, he probably would have given the young soldier a few minutes even if the information he spoke of wasn't so... vital.

"Okay, Cadet..." Erwin trailed off, and was met with a quick answer.

"Yeager. Eren Yeager, sir."

After a nod, Erwin motioned for the Levi squad to wait a moment for him as they walked behind the stage. Each step increased the tension in the air, and Erwin could confirm that whatever information Eren had, it was important.

After entering a private room, Erwin shut the door behind him and instantly questioned with seriousness. "You said you knew something about the rogue Titan, so what is it?"

Erwin had a hunch, and the way Eren breathed in, as though to calm himself, told him all he needed to know. Eren wasn't bluffing. he actually had important information about the Titan who saved Trost.

He began cautiously, as though one mistaken word would destroy the room. "Alright, but I need to warn you. What I'm about to tell you will destroy your worldview. The Walls, the Titans, humanity as a whole. There isn't any going back to being ignorant once I'm done. Also, if anybody but your most trusted soldiers asked, I was just asking about your personal experience as Commander of the Survey Corps and how to improve as a soldier."

Erwin raised an eyebrow, but accepted those terms. "You have my word, Eren. So, what is this about?"

He already had a hunch about the boy in front of him, and if he were a regular man then he'd have been afraid. But, Erwin was no ordinary man, and if he was right then at the very least, they were allies. Or, at least, not enemies.

Eren hardened his gaze, and final spoke. "I am a Titan shifter. The Attack Titan more specifically, and I'm the one who sealed Trost. That was me, in my Titan form."

The Commander's eyes hardened, only slightly surprised, and quickly asked. "I see. Are you a human who can turn into a Titan, or a Titan who can turn into a human."

"The first one. I wasn't born with these powers, they were given to me by my father, and I need your help."

Erwin had to resist the urge to break his stoic mask, the next few seconds were heavily silent, until he asked. "Help with what?"

Eren's green eyes shined, with the younger man's gaze harbouring an intensity that would make most men flinch.

"With saving the people of the Walls. We'll all be killed if we don't fight back against the rest of humanity."

Mikasa tugged at her scarf slightly, whispering to Armin like an anxious parent. "Do you think Eren will be alright? Maybe I should have gone with him."

Armin glanced over his shoulder as the building where they made their decision got further and further away, and he just reassured her. "Eren will be fine. It's like he said, we'll need allies to fight against them. The Scouts make sense, especially considering their goals and what they stand for."

Mikasa was inclined to agree, but that did little to dissuade her nervousness. She hated when he left her side, she was Eren's protector, and the longer her boyfriend stayed away, the more her anxiety grew.

She'd always felt a huge sense of wrongness being away from him. When they were children, before Shiganshina fell, she would always be the one to save him whenever the bullies picked a fight with him- or he picked a fight with the bullies- it came as naturally to her as breathing.

But, after Maria fell, there was a massive change in him. Eren, the same boy who was always rushing into fights, abruptly stopped picking them. A boy who was once loud and boisterous became withdrawn, quiet, brooding even. Instead of thinking about himself, he was always fretting over her and Armin, and he'd even be the one to take the initiative and keep them safe.

Looking back, it was almost worrying how fast he'd matured. Before they'd graduated he'd told them about his Titan powers, and how he'd gotten them from his father, along with the memories he'd inherited from Grisha. Maybe those factors had changed his personality. But, that still didn't quite feel right to her.

Mikasa's feelings never changed though, even after such a massive shift in his behaviour. In fact, she found herself smiling more since they had that kiss in Trost. Her constant headaches ceased the moment their lips met, and every time he gazed at her with so much love in his gaze it made sparks dance up her spine. Whenever she thought of love she used to think of her parents, how they'd coddle her, how her mother would smile as they gardened, and how her father was always hunting for their next meal. The days when she was sheltered, and ignorant, and innocent.

But, whenever she thinks of that affection, that connection to someone else, Eren has started to increasingly pop up in her head, the image of him outshining even her parents. In a lot of ways, the idea of Eren dying hurt her so much more than her parents own deaths.

And strangely, it didn't bother her. She actually loved Eren more than her own parents. She didn't know if that was really how someone was supposed to feel about the love of their life, but that was how strongly she felt for him.

Letting out a shivered breath, Mikasa looked over her shoulder and noticed how far away they were from the choosing ceremony. The stage was around the north end of the city, but they were a few kilometres away from it by now, and Eren still hadn't joined them. The two of them had intentionally walked at a snail's pace, since Eren said he'd be fast about getting back to them, however he still hadn't come running for them.

Mikasa tried to calm herself, pushing down her troubled thoughts, but her worries only grew as time went on. Each second felt like another grate on her nerves, and it bothered her how long he was taking.

"Hey Armin?" She suddenly said, getting his attention.

"Yeah, what is it?"

"The Scouts are Titan killers, you don't think that they'd attack Eren if he told them about his powers. Do you?"

Armin heard the worry laced in her voice, so he swiftly soothed her worries. "Of course not. Eren saved Trost, so even if he is a Titan he'll be on their good side. Besides, Commander Erwin seems like a reasonable man, and he'll know that if Wall Maria is to be reclaimed then they need him. There are a lot of reasons for the Scouts not to try and kill him. Besides, none of the soldiers there have any ODM gear. Eren would be able to get away, even if they did have to fight."

After a moment, Mikasa had to concede that those were all good points, ones that should have placated her worries. Yet, the doubt remained.

Mikasa flinched as she felt her instincts snap her head backward, in the direction of the choosing. Her mind was struggling to recognise what it was, but she could feel him. Eren was in trouble.

Thunder and lightning crackled above Trost, rain starting to pour down, but that didn't stop Mikasa from suddenly bolting back down the street, her face contorting with worry as she ran so fast that the world became a blur. She vaguely heard Armin call out for her in distress, but he wasn't on her mind.

The only thing on her mind was Eren. She needed to find Eren.

"Eren!" She yelled out, not sure why she felt so worried about him. In all likeliness, he wasn't in any danger, but she didn't care. She just needed to find Eren. Where was Eren?!

Water soaked through her clothes, dampening her skin and making her shiver slightly, but that wasn't her concern. Her stamina might have been superhuman, but the need to find him made her legs speed up the pace, making her experience a rare feeling of fatigue.

Finally, when her legs were burning, she arrived at where Eren was. She didn't know how she knew he was in there, all she knew was that Eren was in there. Something was happening to him, and she needed to help him.

Water was pouring at this point, the pellets of water clashing against the stone roads of Trost, but a single alley hidden away between two buildings was sheltered from the torrent. Walking down it slowly, she caught sight of Eren.

He was stumbling like a drunkard, clutching his head as though his brain were about to burst, and she could hear him muttering to himself.

Regarding him with concern, Mikasa walked up to his side and softly asked. "Eren, what's wrong?"

Instead of getting an answer, he just deliriously whispered as though she weren't there and continued on his march. "Y-ymi... Ymir- the Founder Ymir."

Mikasa burrowed her eyebrows, wondering what the freckled girl had to do with his actions, and shook his shoulder. "Eren. Are you okay, what are you talking about?" Much to her dismay, he continued to ignore her.

Getting frustrated, she walked in front of him and obstructed his path. "Eren, what are you-" Mikasa's eyes widened when she noticed that his normally pure emerald eyes were tainted by unnatural streaks of violet that appeared to be cracking his irises, bleeding away any green that remained there.

Caught in her daze, Mikasa flinched away when Eren's tranquil expression abruptly collapsed, contorting in pain and hysteria, as he fell to his knees groaning in pain.

Getting on her knees, Mikasa got by his side and placed a hand on his shoulder. She wasn't sure what to do, so she just did what Eren did whenever she had a headache.

Placing a hand on his Eren's, she held him close and whispered softly. "It's okay, the pain will pass. I'm here for you."

Mikasa wasn't really sure what was going on with him- maybe it was a Titan thing?- but she would be there for him. It would pass, she was sure of it. He had to.

She felt some of her worry drop when he stopped groaning in pain, but when he looked back up she noticed that he was looking past her, not at her, and his nose was starting to bleed.

He reached out his hand, grasping at thin air. "What do you- what do you want?"

Mikasa frowned, noticing he wasn't talking to her, and wondered if the Scouts had done something to him, but cast those thoughts aside when his arm went limp and the violet in his eyes disappeared.

"Eren. Eren, wake up!" Shaking him, Mikasa patted his face and was relieved to find that air was leaving his nostrils. He was alive.

But, very obviously unconscious for some reason. A fact she found strange, but cast it aside as she picked him up like a bride and began to carry him out of the alley.

Opening the door and exiting, Eren looked back for a moment and noted to himself in amusement that Erwin was looking into space, seemingly still in a slight daze despite the explanation he'd given.

It seems like even the most stoic of men could be surprised sometimes. Not that Erwin could be blamed, considering he just learned a massive chunk of the knowledge he'd been told since birth was a blatant lie.

Once the door closed, Eren briefly revised to himself what he'd told Erwin. The man was clever, so he'd probably suspect that he hadn't been told everything, since keeping a few cards to your chest was always a smart move. And he was right.

Whilst he'd been honest to Erwin about most of his information, there were a few facts he'd kept to himself. One of which was Ymir's identity as the Jaw Titan, and another was the fact you needed a Titan of royal blood to bring out the full power of the Founding Titan. There were others things he'd omitted too, such as him being the Founding Titan, but those were just so that he didn't overwhelm the man all at once.

He briefly wondered what would happen to Annie, and how her capture would be attempted. She was arguably more difficult to take down than the Armoured or Colossal. Reiner had a good defence, but Eren knew for a fact that he was horrible at out manoeuvring his opponents. Bertolt's Titan, on the other hand, was a problem purely because of it's explosion. The Colossal was too slow for fighting, which meant that he was a sitting duck if he were alone.

Eren wasn't actually certain he could beat her. Mikasa might have trained him a lot, but she was holding back on him most of the time.

Speaking of Mikasa, he really needed to catch up with her. She could worry about him too much sometimes and, whilst he couldn't say he hated her concern, she could be a touch overbearing at times.

Walking to leave, a deep and commanding voice asked from behind him. "Hey brat, the hell were you talking to Erwin for?"

Recognising the voice, Eren turned around and locked eyes with a short dark haired man. Resisting the urge to freeze, he just replied. "Well, I'm a Scout now. I've wanted to become one for a while, so I figured I'd ask about the Commander's own personal experience since he's been one for so long."

Narrowing his steel eyes, Levi has suspicion laced in his voice as he questioned further. "Oh really? If it was just a few questions, then why did you take so damn long?"

Shrugging, Eren replied. "I guess I had a lot more questions than I thought I did. I don't wanna die out there afterall, so getting any advice I can is helpful. Quite frankly, sir, I'm surprised he answered them all for me."

Levi gave a look that said he didn't buy that bullshit, but luckily didn't press further. "Whatever, just don't waste anymore of his time. And beat it, the rest of your little friends are probably waiting up for you."

Eren merely nodded, walking along and trying not to look back, knowing that Levi probably had an eye trying to laser through the back of his head.

Once at a safe distance, Eren sighed and murmured lowly to himself. "Jesus, that man does not feel like he's five foot two."

Levi didn't surprise him too badly, with what little conversation they'd gotten. He seemed stoic, rude, and maybe a tad violent. The type who'd slap a soldier across the face if he gave him any lip. Then again, the Captain did grow up in the Underground, and just considering what he'd heard about that place? It was surprising he was such a loyal soldier.

Walking alone through the city Eren noted the rain clouds above, and frowned in distaste. It would probably rain, and not just a light drizzle either, it was definitely raining heavy la-

A trail of yellow surged in the clouds, and when it did Eren felt a stabbing pain in his head. Reflexively cradling his head in two hands, he groaned as his eyes started to sting like they were drizzled with shampoo.

Slowly opening his eyes, Eren felt like the world was distorting around him. The streets cobble streets were swaying like water, and his vision was blurred. He was entirely alone, no actually. That was wrong. He could see her watching him, she was nearby.

"Y-y yim, Ymir..."

A head of blonde hair disappeared into an alley, with the woman it belonged to vanishing into the gap between two homes, but Eren wasn't letting her get away. He needed his answers. The reason he was here, if anyone knew then it was her.

Stumbling forward, grasping his hair in one hand to try and distract himself from the pain, Eren's breath grew shallow as he watched her back walk away at a leisurely pace.

"Stop."

Whispering in a vain attempt to draw her attention, Eren tried to follow her as his legs grew weak, and his world began to narrow when his ears started ringing. He could vaguely feel the presence of someone else talking to him, yet his head wouldn't budge away from staring at the Founder's back.

"Y-ymi... Ymir- the Founder Ymir."

Eren managed to utter her name, but was brought his to his knees just seconds later, his irises feeling like they were about to pop like tiny balloons. He could feel her, she was doing this to him!

The pain was immense, and his limbs were failing him, but a familiar voice managed to drag him out of his troubles. The girl he loved, and her sweet voice felt like aspirin to the agony he was feeling.

"It's okay, the pain will pass. I'm here for you."

Mikasa's presence was ebbing the pain, making it more bearable, yet it still persisted. His arms, though weak, still had the strength to support themselves. So, when she turned to him, he reached out on instinct.

The Founder finally turned around, revealing herself to be an adult dressed in fine silk, not a little girl dressed in rags like he expected. Her eyes were hidden by blonde bangs, casting shadows over them, yet he could feel she was watching him. Approaching him, no rush in her movements, she met stared and Eren felt himself become overwhelmed by images.

"Not your fault?! You've got to be kidding me- take some responsibility for your actions! Maybe you didn't get have a choice in some of it, but everyone has some level control over their actions! You could have just completed your job, but no, you had to make it personal! You used all of us for your own self gratification! All whilst calling us filthy devils, well fuck you! The only devils here are you two bastards!"

"Come and get me then you fucking lapdogs!"

"Jean, eat."

"I got what I wanted. It didn't bring me peace."

Eren gasped violently, waking up to the feeling of cold skin against warm fabric, the backlash of his vision making his eyes burn momentarily.

Trying to make sense of what he saw, Eren caught his breath. He calmed himself, trying to remember, but it felt like he'd already forgotten everything he'd seen and heard in that dream.

Touching his head, Eren remembered that Ymir- as in the Founder- had done something to him. She might have been trying to communicate with him, to tell him something, but she hadn't breathed a word. It was as though she were toying with him, and he hated that. There had to have been a reason though.

Eren snapped out of his daze, assessing his environment, and noticed that he was in... a bedroom? No, it was more like an apartment, one that was slightly cold in the air. Glancing at the window he could tell it was raining heavily, and that it wouldn't be letting up anytime soon. Also, he was sleeping on a mattress.

Catching sight of Mikasa, he could tell she was sleeping on a sofa, and asked on reflex. "Hey, Mikasa, what happened?" Only after he said that did he notice his mistake in trying to make her awake, but at that point she'd already started to rise.

Slightly drowsy, but not asleep, she rubbed her eyes and yawned before acknowledging. "Eren, your awake. What happened to you?"

He frowned. "I should be asking you that. My memory is a little fuzzy, what happened and how did we end up here?"

Mikasa blinked, and briefly summarised the events leading up to now. "Well, you were taking a while, so I decided to head back. But, when I found you, you were limping through an alleyway. Even when I talked to you, I didn't get a reaction out of you. You passed out eventually, and you were whispering things."

Eren took note of that, and sat up, beginning. "Well, is there anything el- haaa... where are my clothes?" He only just noticed his lack of a shirt, or anything on his legs, and quickly pulled the sheets of the bed over his privates to protect his modesty.

Though, with the way Mikasa was flushing, he didn't doubt she already saw.

Trying not to let her embarrassment show, and failing, Mikasa just pointed over to a table where his clothes were folded and he nodded awkwardly before trying to change the subject.

"Where are we?"

Mikasa, the supposedly stoic soldier, managed to repress some of the red on her cheeks, but a lot of scarlet was still leaking through. "Just a Motel, we were close by and I-I wanted you to sleep well, and it was pretty cheap."

Eren accepted the answer. They might have been soldiers, but if they returned in the morning then they'd only get a slight reprimand. They needed to return though, since their comrades were leaving first thing in the morning to get to the Scouts HQ further into Wall Rose.

Watching her closely, Eren was surprised by how easily she flustered with him just revealing himself a little bit. Even when he was around, she wasn't one to express herself emotionally much, and it was actually nice to see her emoting a bit more than usual.

Noticing how cold the room was, Eren quickly sat back down and tried to soothe the rising goosebumps on his arms. It was chilly, and air conditioning wasn't exactly an option, and neither was getting any extra clothing on. So, that just left one option.

His cheeks feeling warmer in contrast to the coldness that covered his whole body, Eren asked. "Mikasa. It's cold, will you sleep over here?"

Mikasa's blush intensified, her response was predictable stammering. "Wait, wha- what do you mean?"

Despite his own embarrassment, Eren had to resist the urge to roll his eyes. "I mean, can you sleep with me in the same bed? It's cold in here, and it'll help us both warm up. Besides, you've got nothing to be embarrassed about. It'll be normal for us to be close like this eventually."

His words did little to reduce her face's redness, but after a minute of silence she did as told and got up... to show she was also half naked. Dressed in nothing but a bra and undergarments, her clothing probably wet just like his was.

Mikasa was a sight for sore eyes. She wasn't overly bulky, but the abs and definition on her muscles was something he didn't know he needed to see until now. Well, that was a lie, he'd noticed a lot of times before how athletic she was. A person probably could have grated cheese on those abs, but she still had a lot of femininity. Mainly her legs. Her toned, long, enticing legs.

Eren breathed in the sight with his eyes, something which Mikasa seemed to notice but didn't try to hide. She was shy, but clearly enjoying to attention, and she laid down when he made room for her on the conveniently small bed frame.

She looked to him, as though asking for one final push of confirmation, and he simply nodded. After that gesture, she moved under his sheets and muttered. "It's warm in here."

Eren swallowed, but didn't dare budge away. "Yeah, it is." Feeling awkward, and suddenly hit in the face with how stunning Mikasa really was, he blurted out. "You're really beautiful, you know?"

He tried not to wince at how lame he sounded, but despite that Mikasa still had a strong reaction to the words.

"Really?" She asked, her charcoal blue eyes all but beaming with joy at the most simple of praise, and Eren tried in vain not to be affected by the adorable sight.

"Of Course, you're the most beautiful girl in the world to me. I've thought that for a long time, actually." Eren answered, completely honest, as he inched slightly closer to Mikasa, to the point where her could feel her body heat grazing his skin.

Mikasa stared back into his eyes, muttering. "I think you look handsome, Eren." The words were simple, but they didn't fail to bring a smile onto his face.

"Thanks."

A heavy silence descended on top of them, and for a moment the world was totally still. The both of them were all they had, all they needed, all they wanted. Eren was almost tempted to throw everything away in that moment. To abandon his plans, his friends, the people of the Walls. If he could just spend his remaining years with her, then...

He internally shut down the idea before it could take root. He was cursed. A long life was too much for him to ask for- hell, a normal life was too much for him to ask for. His powers painted a target on his back, and Marley would hunt him down for as long as he drew breath, all because of his powers.

Grisha Yeager really was a horrible man for cursing his son- no, for cursing him.

Ripping his gaze away, he eyed Mikasa's lips. They were soft, pink, supple. There wasn't a flaw on her, at least not physically, and he didn't waste another second as he brought their lips together.

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