Chapter 12: Eren at the Mall

"Come on otosan, you promised you'd teach me today!" Kawachi yelled from the garage.

Ai giggled to herself as she took the plates from the table after breakfast. It had been a day since Eren and Reiner met, and the revelation of who and what Eren really was made it a relatively interesting night.

Ai was giddy and happy, glad to finally know more about her husband. She wanted to know for so long where he came from and what his home was like. Although she knew now that he was from another world, they didn't get the chance to talk about the world yet. What was the food like? How were the people? Did he visit any unique places? She promised herself to get him alone to talk more, maybe a fancy dinner date.

However, she also recognized that he was reluctant to share about his world. Eren always told truths about his past but kept the detail vague. Ai knew that his history was authentic, that being that he was a child soldier and fought for his enemy at one point, an enemy she now knew was this "Marley" group. So, she wasn't expecting him to fully open up since she knew the darker sides of his life.

The biggest shock was the fact he could turn into a fifteen-meter-tall monster... a literal monster. She saw the video on TikTok and assumed it was fake like everyone else. Apparently, that was her husband. Apparently, he had no reproductive organs in that form, which Ai knew from experience that he does in his human form.

"Sure Kawachi." Eren said, massaging his neck slightly as he walked out to the garage to teach his son.

Everyone still had an hour before they needed to leave for school, so it gave Eren and Kawachi some much needed bonding time. This would actually be the first time Eren actively taught his son something that he knew. Things that wasn't basic things that all parents teach their children.

Ai left the dishes in the sink because she wanted to watch the little fight. She was so excited and even got her phone ready to take pictures and videos. She wanted to make this memory permanent.

Eren and Kawachi were both in workout clothes, with Eren and her son wearing gloves to protect them. Kawachi mainly to protect his hands and Eren mainly to soften his punches when he lightly punched Kawachi.

Eren went through some of the basics of throwing a proper punch and how to take a guard stance with Kawachi, who listened with eagerness. He had a big smile on his face at finally getting to learn from his otosan. It was a smile that warmed Ai's heart.

Eren instructed Kawachi to start punching while keeping his guard up. Kawachi threw punch after punch into Eren's outstretched hand, letting him get used to the feeling of impacting a glove. All the while, Eren reminded him that his guard dropped.

"Hey otosan, why did you learn to fight if you could turn into a monster?" Kawachi asked as he threw a punch.

"Well, other people could turn into monsters too, we had to fight in our monster form." Eren said with a small smirk.

Ai knew after he told them, that Eren was terrified of them learning the truth. Maybe he thought they'd hate him for being a monster, and it's a difficult thing to accept, but they all thought it was amazing and even exotic. Ai could see on Eren's face that he relaxed a bit when his powers were brought up since Kawachi thought it was heroic.

"Like Reiner?" Kawachi asked.

"Yes, like him." Eren said.

"Did you beat him?" Kawachi asked.

"All the time." Eren said with a chuckle.

"But he seems like a cool guy, I can't imagine him being evil." Kawachi said.

Eren paused a moment, lowering his hands which confused his son.

"What is it?" Kawachi asked.

"Kawachi... sometimes the world isn't as complicated as good or evil." Eren said.

"What do you mean?" Kawachi tilted his head with a raised eyebrow.

"Reiner, he is a good person. A hero in his own right. Someone who did bad things for a greater good." Eren said. "He was a warrior in another countries army. The same way I was. Our countries... we both fought a war to defeat the devils beyond the walls."

"Beyond the walls?" Kawachi asked.

"I fought the monsters outside our walls, he fought the devils within our walls." Eren said.

"That makes no sense." Kawachi said.

"It didn't make sense to me at first either." Eren said. "But you have to understand that the world is more complicated than most people think."

"Then if he's a hero, why do you hate him?" Kawachi asked.

"I don't hate him; I just don't want him around you guys." Eren placed his hand on Kawachi's head and gently rubbed it. "It's just, I don't want him being in a position to hurt you all."

Ai saw a fear in his eyes, one very unfamiliar to her. It was that same look he gave her recently. A look of memorizing the face of someone you love, almost scared that you're going to lose them.

Kawachi just looked confused, not understanding what Eren meant. How can Reiner be dangerous to them if he was a good person? Only bad people hurt kids like him and his sister, right?

"Come on, let's try sparing." Eren said.

"Ok!" Kawachi said, the gravity of their conversation now gone.

Eren got into a fighting stance and Kawachi did as well, though clearly was much more inexperienced. Kawachi moved first and tried to get a surprise hit in, but Eren would either parry or dodge it with skill, though Ai could tell he was going much slower than he normally would.

Come to think of it, this might be the first time she saw him holding back. There was that one time with Kamiki, but even then, he bodied him. Ruby and she were so weak and uncoordinated that he didn't even try to make it look like he was fighting them. She smiled a bit at the memory.

Kawachi dropped his guard as he went for a punch, Eren used this moment to give him a bit of motivation to keep his guard up. So right before he deflected Kawachi's punch, Eren swung a left hook and hit Kawachi in the face.

Kawachi fell down as his head whipped to the side, a tooth flew out of his mouth and skidded on the ground, leaving a small trail of blood as it went.

"Kawachi!" Ai yelled as she dropped her phone and ran over to her son.

Kawachi got to his elbows and held his face, trying hard to hold back any crying or sobs.

"Are you ok Kawa-Chan?" Ai asked as she put a hand on his back.

"I told you keep your guard up Kawachi." Eren said.

Ai turned and glared at Eren, who stepped back slightly at the hostility. She left Kawachi alone for a moment and stood right in Eren's face, or at least tried to since she had to stare up at him due to her short height.

"What were you thinking!?" Ai yelled at Eren. "You knocked his tooth out!"

"It's a baby tooth Ai." Eren said. "It was coming out regardless." Eren said.

"I'm fine okaasan." Kawachi said as he stood up, wiping his eyes so he didn't cry.

"You go get cleaned up now while I have a talk with your otosan!" She ordered.

Kawachi just listened to her and left.

"Ai, he's ok. It's important for a young boy to learn how to take a punch." Eren said.

"What makes you think that!?" Ai yelled out. "Did your otosan ever hit you!?"

"He was a doctor Ai, not a Soldier. He never taught me how to fight." Eren said.

"And you think it's appropriate to not hold back against a child?" Ai asked.

"Ai, I did hold back." Eren said.

"What about that one time you play fought with Ruby?" Ai asked. "Why not be more like that?"

"That was playing Ai, this is training." Eren said. "If he's going to learn, he needs to learn not to drop his guard."

"This isn't training, this is teaching!" Ai yelled.

"We went through worse in the cadet-"

"I don't care!" Ai said. "He's a sweet little boy and shouldn't be hit that hard. What if you gave him brain damage?"

"I've seen people get much worse damage and be fine Ai." Eren said.

Eren crossed his arms and looked down sadly. Trying hard to see Ai's point of view and why it was such an issue that he hit his son a little hard. But to Ai, it seemed like such a bad thing that Eren felt like he doubted his actions.

He had to remember that this world, at least this country, was much softer than his own. They protect children to almost an unbelievable point from his perspective. They wear weird yellow hats and clothing to be more identifiable on the street, are not even considered adults until eighteen, and there are strict laws in place preventing excessive punishments.

It's a thing Eren would sometimes forget. Even now, he began to see Ruby as an adult and no longer a child. Even the concept of adolescence was new to him. By his world's standards, she'd be a full-grown woman and ready to marry and build a life by fifteen. Some areas in the walls considered it even younger for a woman to be of marriage age.

But this world was just different.

"Maybe... maybe I did hit him a little too hard." Eren said.

Ai stopped herself for a moment and looked down sadly. Something occurred to her that didn't before, part of the reason that Eren was so worried about teaching Kawachi how to fight. Eren was a child Soldier. He killed a man at nine, learned how to fight since twelve, fought a war at fifteen. Eren went through so much pain and agony growing up that he forced himself to become strong.

So, his idea of teaching his son how to fight and how to defend himself was a more brutal approach. A way that taught Kawachi pain for failure so he could learn and mature quickly. Because that's how Eren learned, that's how he was conditioned.

Eren wanted to prepare his son for the realities of the world, and while Ai's reality was getting them ready for school or friends... Eren's reality was death, blood, and fighting. Ai doesn't think he meant to hurt Kawachi, but he was trying to teach Kawachi the way he was taught.

Ai wrapped her small arms around Eren's waist, pushing her head into his chest and giving him a hug.

"I'm sorry Eren." Ai said. "I guess, I forgot how you grew up."

Even still...

"But I can't let our children learn like that. They need a softer approach. Please, just be gentler with him."

Eren wrapped his arms around his wife. Maybe he was a bit too rough with his son. While Grisha never taught Eren to fight, the one who really taught Eren how to be hard, strong, and how to take a hit was without a doubt Captain Levi. You don't spend four years on Levi Squad without learning to take a hit.

"I guess I shouldn't take Captain Levi's training to heart with Kawachi." Eren chuckled into her hair.

"Well, if I ever meet him, I'll be sure to put him in his place." Ai chuckled.

"You might be able to, you're about as tall as him." Eren said.

"Really!?" Ai pulled back, shocked that his Captain was her height.

"He might be a bit taller, but yes." Eren said.

"You got beat up by someone my size?" Ai asked skeptically.

"He's an Ackerman, they have special abilities." Eren said. "He wasn't nicknamed humanities strongest soldier for nothing." Eren chuckled.

"Ackerman... like Mikasa?" Ai asked, remembering Eren's old friend.

"They're not related, at least not close. More distantly related since the Ackerman clan used to be a large clan." Eren said.

"Wow." Ai said, glad to finally learn something about his home, though she was a little annoyed that it was about the girl he used to love, but she did ask so she shouldn't get mad.

Eren and Ai walked back into the kitchen where Kawachi was icing his face from the punch. It was starting to bruise, but he'll be ok with a bit of rest and ice.

"Kawachi, I didn't-" Eren began.

"It's ok otosan." Kawachi shrugged it off. "Next time I won't let you get the chance and I'll knock your teeth out. You'll be able to lizard it, so I'm allowed to!" He chuckled.

"Lizard?" Eren looked to Ai, who shrugged.

"Yea, because some lizards can regrow their tails!" Kawachi said.

"I don't have a tail." Eren said.

"No, but you can regrow stuff." He said. "Like a lizard."

If Kawachi ever did get the chance to knock a tooth out, it would just be another time a half oriental managed to do it. Captain Levi knocked out at least one of each of his teeth by this point.

Despite the almost crying, Kawachi wasn't deterred at all. He enjoyed the chance to fight his otosan. It was mostly just the surprise that got him and if his okaasan wasn't there, Kawachi would have kept fighting.

"Well, you two can continue it later. For now, get showered and ready for school." Ai said to Kawachi.

"Fine." He exhaled.

As he walked away, Ai turned to Eren.

"Eren, please just be gentle with him." Ai said. "He doesn't need to go through what you did."

Eren looked down but turned to his wife and nodded. He'd still teach Kawachi through pain to avoid a hit, but he'd be much gentler due to Ai's request.

After school, Eren went to go pick up Mikasa. Kawachi had an after-school thing he had to do, so Eren decided to go pick her up.

While he was in the car waiting for his daughter, he took out his phone and moved the screen down to Zeke's contact information. As of now, Zeke didn't have Eren's number, but Eren decided to at least take Zeke on his offer in trying to stop the Titan threat.

"Zeke." Eren said when Zeke picked up.

"Eren, I was waiting for you. Though I'm surprised you called instead of texting." Zeke said.

"I hate texting." Eren said. "I'm on my way to see Armin, so after we meet, I'll schedule a time that I'm going to bring them over to see you."

"Them?" Zeke asked.

"Don't be surprised." Eren said, his voice getting low and threatening. "I know you didn't tell me that Reiner knew my family."

"Honestly, I thought it would be funny if you found out on your own." Zeke chuckled.

"Zeke, now is not the time to play games with me." Eren said aggressively.

"That's fair." Zeke said. "So, Armin and Reiner will come here?"

"I need to convince them, but that's the plan. My family as well." Eren said.

"Won't that be risking revealing the truth?" Zeke asked.

"I told them." Eren said.

"Really, and they believed it?" Zeke asked.

"When you can heal instantly, most people are willing to believe the unlikely." Eren said simply.

"That's a fair point." Zeke nodded. "But why bring them?"

"I want to verify Mikasa and Kawachi's blood, to see if they really are Eldian." Eren said. "You also said you might be able to cure the Titan threat, so I want to get rid of it."

"I said I want to try." Zeke corrected. "There's no promise, but with these modern advancements, we should be able to at least learn how it works and see if there are any differences."

"Reiner also confirmed he could shift since he was reborn, meaning the curse is officially no longer in effect." Eren added.

"That's both good to hear and terrifying." Zeke said.

"Why?" Eren asked.

"If one rule is different, any rule can be different." Zeke said. "There's really no telling what we will discover. Especially since Reiner and Armin were reborn, which can mean they're different."

"How so?" Eren asked.

"I have some theories, but first I need blood samples before I share it." Zeke said. "Your daughter, the blonde one, she's having an interview tonight. How about we meet up after that? Maybe tomorrow morning?"

"Sure." Eren nodded. "We can do that. I need to let you go."

Eren hung up as his daughter opened the back seat door and got in, placing her school bag in the seat before getting in and putting the buckle on.

"Hi papa." Mikasa said.

"Hi Mikasa." Eren said. "We're making a stop before going home." Eren said.

"Really?" Mikasa asked. "Where are we going?"

"We're going to the mall." Eren said. "I'm going to meet Armin."

Eren winced as Mikasa screamed in excitement. Ai told him about her little crush on his old friend, which still found kind of funny. It was amazing that Armin inspired not only Eren, but Mikasa as well.

"That's awesome papa!" She yelled out. "I can't wait!"

Eren gave a small smile, glad his daughter was happy today. He started the car and drove away from the school, taking back roads to avoid the traffic in the city.

Eren double checked the Instagram post he saw from that one girl from the show, Akney or something like that. She was a girl with short dark colored hair that was apparently some kind of aspiring actress. Luckily, her Instagram wasn't set to private, and she posted that her and some of the cast were going to the mall.

Apparently, Mem something invited Armin, Yuki, and Akney to the mall for a little get together in-between shoots. The other cast members were busy with their own things so it would just be Armin and the three girls.

The mall itself was one of the larger ones in Tokyo. It was a building about fifteen stories tall with each level being a different area for shopping and arcades. It was recently built, though still one of the shorter buildings in the immediate area.

Eren parked the car, paid for two hour parking, and went to let Mikasa out. Eren took her hand and walked into the mall with her almost skipping next to him, excited to meet her favorite YouTuber.

Eren felt a rush of emotions, terrified of seeing Armin again. Realistically, their last conversation was not the best. It was when he told Armin the truth of his plans and how eighty percent of the total population was wiped out. He remembered Armins horrified expression as Eren said it, still remembering the feeling of the teeth and hair clutched in his hands.

"Papa, you're squeezing my hand... it hurts." Mikasa groaned in pain.

"Oh, sorry Mikasa." Eren said as he relaxed his grip.

Eren needed to calm down again. He didn't mean to hurt his daughter, but he was so scared and nervous to see Armin again. Eren used his thumb to lightly rub Mikasa's hand, wordlessly showing that he was sorry for hurting her hand.

Of course, Mikasa instantly forgot it.

Eren reached the top floor and saw Armin and the three girls near the edge of the large open area in the center. The entire center of the mall was open on the inside and there was a drop that went all the way down to the bottom, minus nets placed every floor incase someone fell over the railing.

Eren felt like he wasn't ready for this, and based on how shy and scared Mikasa got, neither was she. Mikasa instantly hid behind his leg when she saw Armin, the excitement turning into fear and embarrassment as she saw him. It actually brought a smile to Eren's face.

Eren walked over to Armin, and as he got close, Armin turned to look at him. His face turned to surprise, clearly not expecting that Eren would-

"KYAAAA!" The blond-haired girl next to him screamed.

"Ahhhh!" Eren screamed, jumping back and pushing Mikasa back as well.

"KYAAAAA!" The other one screamed as well, both girls jumped into each other's arms as they saw him.

The short haired girl looked at him with fear as well, but she at least didn't scream, just stepped back in fear.

"Calm down guys." Armin tried to calm the girls.

"Call the police!" Blondy yelled.

"Damn kid nearly gave me a heart attack." Eren said, clutching his chest.

"Seriously Mem-Cho, it's fine." Armin tried again to calm her.

"Are you crazy, what if he shoots us!?" Mem-Cho said in fear.

"Why the hell would I shoot a bunch of teenagers in public!?" Eren yelled out.

"Because you're a criminal!" She yelled back at him.

"Seriously, that was a decade ago." Eren said in annoyance. "I doubt you even remember it." Eren said.

Mem-Cho suddenly got nervous for a moment, but Eren wasn't paying attention.

"Seriously, everything is fine." Armin said. "He's actually kind of a friend."

"How do you know him!?" Yuki asked.

"Papa is from another world an-" Eren put a hand over Mikasa's mouth.

"Papa!?" The girls yelled.

"Yes, I have a daughter." Eren gave them a deadpanned look. "It's not like it isn't common knowledge."

The first few years where people made videos about him and his family, mostly calls for his arrest, made sure that everyone knew about his family.

"But she's so adorable." Mem-Cho said as she looked at the hand gagged child, who started to try and shake her head to break Eren's grip on her face. "And those eyes, two colors. She's too precious to be his-" Mem-Cho stopped herself, realizing who she was about to insult.

"What was that?" Eren glared at her.

"I-I mean... eto..." She backed away, now scared for her life.

"Don't worry, like I said, Eren's a friend." Armin said.

"Again, how do you know him?" Yuki asked.

"He- Uh, He went on an overseas job in the UK a few years ago and worked with my dad." Armin lied.

"Why would your dad work with him?" Mem-Cho asked.

"He's a member of the SAS, so they work with Japanese intelligence officers sometimes." Armin lied again, with enough confidence to trick them.

"He's the friend you came to see?" Akney asked.

"Yes Akane." Oh, Akane, that's how you pronounce it.

"You know a criminal?" Yuki asked.

"Seriously, I haven't been a criminal for a decade now." Eren said. "Will you people just let that go. I've spent the past decade serving this country."

"I guess the rumors of Japan being an unforgiving place is true." Armin chuckled. "Uh, Eren, the little girl is starting to bite your hand."

"I know." Eren said, though not bothered since she wasn't even strong enough to bite through the skin.

Eren didn't want to let go, otherwise Mikasa would say something she shouldn't. Seriously, she's as bad as her sister used to be half the time. Just says whatever is on her mind, barely any filter at all. Eren wondered if both girls inherited that from their ditz of a mother.

Not that he would ever call Ai a ditz to her face, though it was endearing when she was hopeless sometimes.

Eren let go of Mikasa's face, causing her to inhale sharply. Whoops, he might have covered her nose too. Thankfully, she was just a little lightheaded.

"I can breathe!" She yelled out.

Suddenly, Mikasa looked up and saw Armin looking down at her with a soft and gentle smile. She immediately blushed and ran back behind Eren's leg.

"Do you guys' mind giving us some privacy?" Armin asked.

The group was very uncomfortable with leaving Armin with a criminal, but since they knew each other, they relented. Especially since they had no desire to be around the former criminal.

"You really do have a reputation here." Armin chuckled.

"It's not my fault." Eren shrugged. "I was desperate at the time."

"And this little one, she's your daughter, right?" Armin asked, kneeling down towards Mikasa, who was still behind Eren's leg.

"She looks up to you a lot." Eren said.

"Papa..." Mikasa groaned in embarrassment.

"Well, I'm Armin, it's nice to meet you." He smiled.

Mikasa hid behind Eren's leg again, too shy to properly meet her celebrity crush. She had so many things she wanted to talk to him about but suddenly she got too scared. What if he thought she was annoying or if he thought she was some dumb fan.

Eren chuckled to himself. Mikasa was shy sometimes, especially around people she looked up to.

"So, she knows?" Armin asked, remember her almost saying it before Eren silenced her.

"Y-yup." Mikasa said from behind Eren's leg.

"My family learned recently." Eren said. "It was a necessity since I saw Reiner."

"Yea, I've kept tabs on him online." Armin nodded.

"I'm concerned about his intentions." Eren said.

"He seems like he just wants to live here." Armin countered.

"I'm not risking my family's safety on what ifs." Eren said. "Especially with how odd it is for him to see my family."

"I saw the video, apparently he really was just helping get Ruby some recognition." Armin said.

"Except that he's trying to get close to Ruby." Eren said with a scowl. "I can't help but be concerned that he's trying to court her to get to me." Eren avoided the term bed around Mikasa.

"You know, you need to learn to speak more modern." Armin chuckled.

"I didn't get a new childhood to adapt." Eren said. "But what about your accent."

"Well, you don't spend a second life in a country with a different accent without picking things up." Armin laughed. "My mum was annoyed when I first started talking and had an American accent."

"Really?" Eren asked.

"She said she'd accept me having a Welsh or Scottish accent. She'd even prefer an Irish accent. But "No son of mine will speak with an American accent. It's only the queens English for this household"." Armin laughed at the memory.

"She wasn't a fan?" Eren chuckled.

"She didn't like Americans." Armin shrugged. "Though I guess American is the same accent as Eldian... or Marleyan. Whatever you would call our language back home."

There was a small silence between the two men. Both of them glad to finally get a chance to talk as old friends again. It felt like the issues they had was long in the past.

"It is good to see you again." Eren said.

Eren reached over and hugged his old friend. Armin still was a bit short since he was still sixteen right now, so Eren towered over him. His hair was different though, it was the same hairstyle he had when Eren last saw him.

"Yea, hopefully our talk won't be as painful this time." Armin chuckled.

"Painful?" Eren asked.

"If you remember, the last time we talked, you beat me up."

"Papa!" Mikasa yelled. "You beat up your friend?"

"What do you mean?" Eren asked.

"Remember, in that restaurant." Armin said.

That couldn't be right. Unless he meant the last time they talked in person. The last time they actually talked was in the paths, when Eren told Armin his plan and what would happen prior to their attack on his founding Titan.

"Armin, what's the last thing you remember?" Eren asked.

"Well, I remember you were going towards Zeke, and I was fighting the Cart Titan. After that, it was a blur." Armin shrugged.

So, that confirms his suspicions. Armin only remembered up to the point that Eren and Zeke came into contact.

"I guess I got shot from behind or something, because the next thing I know, I'm drinking breast milk."

"Careful about what you say in front of Mikasa." Eren chided.

"Papa, I know how babies eat." She pouted.

"How?" Armin asked.

"Please don't ask her." Eren crossed his arms, not wanting his daughter to go down a string of conversations that leads to where babies come from.

"Well, the mama goes to the store and drinks a lot of milk. Then it gets stored in her oppai's, and then the baby drinks from her oppai's." Mikasa patted her chest for emphasis.

Eren and Armin stared at the child for a moment, wondering how she came to that conclusion. Eren just put his palm on his forehead at the childish interpretation.

"She's technically not wrong." Armin chuckled. "Some of the nutrients do get stored in fat in the breast."

"I know Armin." Eren said. "Just watch what you say, my wife gave me an ear full after she started asking what being bed means." Eren said.

"Papa, that's a bad word." Mikasa said.

"Sorry Mikasa." Eren said. "Anyway, your last memory was fighting the cart?" Eren tried to get back on topic.

"Yes, that's about it. Honestly, it was a blur at the time."

That concerned Eren. So far, both Titan shifters that were reborn only had memories going up to the moment Eren and Zeke touched, while Eren and Zee remembered the rumbling in its entirety. So far, there were a lot of "Coincidences". However, Eren kept that to himself since he didn't want to tell Armin that he remembered past the Rumbling.

"What do you remember?" Armin asked.

"I...I guess I didn't reach Zeke." Eren said.

Eren didn't want to tell Armin the truth. He remembered their last actual conversation in the paths, how horrified his best friend was. Eren didn't want to relive that. Especially since he didn't want to have that conversation in front of Mikasa.

His family may know the truth of his powers and origin, but for the moment they saw it as something cool and even heroic. A feeling that made Eren feel pride in himself. But now, there was a very good possibility that they'd learn the truth of the rumbling. It was a thought that filled Eren with dread.

"Yet you came here in your full body." Armin said.

"Zeke as well." Eren said.

"Zeke is here?" Armin asked.

"Yes, he reached out to me, said he wanted to meet about finding a way of ending the Titan curse." Eren said.

"Why do you want to get rid of it papa?" Mikasa asked. "It's awesome!"

"It's just not something we should want Mikasa." Eren said. "It's dangerous."

"But you could be a superhero, like when you saved mama. Imagine fighting those Yakuza guys as a fifteen-meter Antman."

Yea, and then his reputation would be worse than it was...

"She's... energetic." armin chuckled, making Mikasa blush in embarrassment.

"Kawachi is worse, he's a lot like I was at that age." Eren said.

"I'm surprised you named her Mikasa." Armin said. "Though your son's name wasn't after me." Armin jokingly glared.

"Ai wanted a Japanese name. She only allowed Mikasa because it's a Japanese name as well as a Hizuru one." Eren said.

"So, what do you intend?" Armin asked.

"I'm going to go see Zeke tomorrow with Reiner. I'd like you to come to." Eren said.

"Sure." Armin said.

"You can transform, right?" Eren wanted to clarify.

"Only partially once, but I never did a full transformation. My Titan isn't subtle." Armin chuckled.

"When could you do it?" Eren asked.

"A few years ago, so I don't know if the curse of Ymir is still here." Armin said.

"As far as we can tell, it's not. Reiner is past his thirteen-year mark since he first transformed." Eren said.

"That's a relief." Armin chuckled. "I was worried."

"Yea, we'll be fine Armin." Eren nodded.

"Do you trust Zeke?" Armin asked.

"No." Eren said honestly. "Zeke always had his goals and would do anything to achieve them."

"Then why see him?" Armin asked.

"Last thing I want is either Mikasa or Kawachi inheriting these powers, so I'm going to find a way to get rid of them." Eren said.

"I agree there." Armin said.

"Though, I'll need the powers for now." Eren said.

"Do you think other shifters showed up?" Armin asked.

"I know the Jaws is hunting me, the one before Falco."

"Before Falco?" Armin asked in confusion.

Shit, Armin wasn't supposed to know that since Falco became the Jaws right before he reached Zeke. No one knew until after the walls collapsed.

"I saw Falco take the power; I assume he'd have it." Eren tried to lie.

Eren could tell Armin only believed him because he trusted Eren, but he could tell Armin was having suspicions. Eren was glad that Armin at least didn't bring it up.

"So, he's hunting you." Armin said.

"Yes, so I'll need to the power for now, at least to figh-"

Eren and Armin both looked around. Mikasa looked up at them in confusion, wondering why they both got tense all of a sudden. Her papa and Armin were looking around, like they were suddenly scared about something.

You don't survive being a Scout for four years without gaining an almost sixth sense. Their instincts were telling them that something was wrong. Like the people around them were acting strange.

Eren noticed that there were a lot of men in the crowd, more than would be normal. Normally, malls were filled with families, teenagers, and couples. Very rarely would there be individual men in large numbers, especially when they kept glancing at Eren.

"Mikasa!" Eren yelled as he grabbed his daughter and dove behind a bench.

Gunfire rang out in the mall, people started screaming and running away in panic, causing the gunmen to lose sight of Eren and Armin. They had to try and push through the crowd to reach Eren.

Eren cursed himself for not noticing sooner. Yakuza gang members, likely the same gang from the north that the Jaws forced into helping. Eren could tell these guys were not local to Tokyo. He wondered by the Jaws didn't coerce the Tokyo gangs to help him, maybe because the Tokyo gangs had firsthand experience with Eren and would be harder to convince.

"Armin, are you ok!" Eren asked, his daughter still under Eren so she could stay somewhat protected.

"I think-Gah!" Armin coughed up blood.

Eren would be concerned about the multiple gunshot wounds in his chest, but Armin would survive. His healing would be a little slower than normal since he's rusty with his powers, but he'll be fine.

Eren realized they missed Eren because Eren ducked in time. They all aimed for Eren's head, which means that the Jaws must have tried to use them to kill Eren. Eren didn't know how to use the consciousness thing Zeke talked about, and he wondered if the Jaws would bank on that to kill him.

"I'm fine." Armin nodded, his chest already showing signs of steam.

"Papa, what's going on!?" Mikasa cried from under Eren.

"Just stay down!" Eren yelled over the screaming.

Eren's heart stopped as he heard the sound of lighting striking and the sound of a transformation. Suddenly, the ceiling above them collapsed, and the face of the Jaws Titan descended down on him.

Eren saw the plan, shoot him in the head, then devour him, taking the Founders power. It was a decent plan. Armin dove out of the way, but Eren only had one direction he could go.

Eren grabbed Mikasa and jumped over the rail before the Jaws could devour him and his daughter. Eren fell down the central drop in the mall and landed on one of the safety nets. Eren needed to transform, but he needed to get his daughter away from him. With her so close to him, he could only do a partial transformation since a full one might kill her.

Eren tried to roll on the net to get her to one of the floors, but the Jaws jumped down, snapping the net and making Eren fall. In the fall, he dropped Mikasa, who screamed as she fell.

She was far enough away to be safe, but he needed to save her. He couldn't let his daughter die. He refused to let any of his family get hurt. He'd make that damned Marleyan warrior pay for threatening his daughter.

Eren reached up, his goal in mind, and bit his hand.

I've very sorry for the delay lol. A tornado hit where I lived and I had to stay at my parents' house for a bit, plus it was the holidays lol. Luckily everything is fine, and my house is fine, so there's no issues lol.

As for Eren teaching Kawachi, I know a few of us have accidentally hit a kid too hard in the past... maybe with a VR controller when the kid got too close... lol. I wanted to show the difference in parenting between Eren and Ai. Eren isn't abusive, but he's obviously a bit rougher with his son given his upbringing. Ai obviously wouldn't like that, so it's just meant to show a difference in how they parent.

I hope people don't mind Kawachi and Mikasa getting some story time. I think it's important to have moments with them to really show how Eren has grown and adapted to this new world in the past decade, and how he's grown as a father.

Anyway, hope you guys enjoy.