843

Grisha sits on the floor of the basement which serves as his study. This place serves two important functions. One, is that it is where he keeps and experiments with the different vials of Titan Serum that he had stolen from the Reiss family. The second was that it was a place to meditate to control his precognition powers. After getting situated in the walls, Grisha began his plan to retrieve the Founder. Kruger had told him before that the previous king had placed a vow on the Founder so that the Colossi that make up the walls could not be used unless they are Attacked first, and that the current king was a bastard who has no concern for the Eldia s outside of his island. Grisha made the basement his personal lab and told Carla he didn't want anyone else in there. He spends hours every week meditating to try and get bits and pieces for both the past and the future so he can make his plans.

First of all, upon seeing the king presented in Mithras during his first trip to the interior, Grisha knew right away that he didn't have the Founding Titan. The fact that it is said that he was ruling for decades was a big giveaway. He realized that the real royal family must be in hiding so Grisha used his connections to try and find the real Fritz family. It took a few years, Eren was two by then and was still very young, but after sneaking around and looking at the medical records of every noble family he could he finally discovered that the Riess' were the real royal family. He just had to find which family of nobles had relatives dying thirteen years apart. Father to son, sibling to sibling. But even with this discovery he couldn't just confront them and take the Founder, (supposedly) only someone of Royal blood can use its power.

Hence why Grisha spent the next few years in deep meditation. He looked deep within himself to access the ancestral memories through the Attack Titan. He learned that 1800 years ago the Fritz's briefly lost the Founder after the then monarch was assassinated by a Marleyan spy, it was inherited by a child in the slums. He saw through the eyes of the then Attack Titan who was paired with the Beast (a dog) to retrieve him. But then, somehow, that non-royal child was able to use the Founder to create a few Titans to defend himself. Grisha was yet to figure out how.

'Come on. Come on," Grisha thinks to himself. 'How did you do it?'

Grisha sees the Attack Titan's arm reaching to the boy. A cut in the memory. And a memory of the boy running away as the now titanized members of the boys village attack him and the Beast. He keeps seeing that, but not that one part that shows how that boy did it.

There is a knock in the door. Grisha groans, stands up, and walks up the stairs to the basement door. It is his wife, Carla. Grisha smiles at her.

"Ah, Carla. What's so important? You know I like to be alone at this time."

"It's finally happened, Grisha!" Carla beams. "Eren made a friend."

Grisha's eyes widen and his mouth breaks into a smile. While he approved of Eren's attitude he could be a bit bold and aloof with other kids. He was glad that his son finally had someone who could tolerate/accept him. It would be better for his emotional well-being.

"Oh, wonderful! I was worried about that. Who is he? What's his age? Did Eren meet him at school or somewhere else?"

"His name is Armin Arlert," Carla says.

Grisha's eyes widen, hearing that name. Though he made an effort to hide his surprise. Ever since finding Mikasa he was on the lookout for an Armin.

"Armin, you say?"

"Yes, Eren found him being harassed by bullies and they really hit it off."

"What do they talk about?"

"I don't know," says Carla. "Eren doesn't want to share with me."

'Armin must approve of the scouts too or something.'

"Well, I would like to meet him soon."

Few days later, Eren invited Armin and his grandfather over for lunch. He revealed that Armin had been living with him for a few years now, since his son and daughter-in-law were arrested for attempting to leave the walls without a military guide. Carla gasped, she knew full well that such a thing (along with rape, murder, and receiving "three-strikes") was considered treasonous to the crown and was punished with early Titanization (it's early because everyone inevitable becomes Titanized when it is deemed that they will die anyways). A necessary strategy to increase the number of Titans protecting them outside the walls.

"Oh, Henry, that's terrible," Carla says to Armin's grandfather. "I can't imagine how hard that must have been for you."

"I blame myself," Henry admits. "I encouraged my son's curiosity about the world. But they aren't dead. They are still out there."

"Yeah, as mindless man-eating monsters," Eren says. "Death would be better!"

"Eren!" Carla snaps.

"What?"

"No, he is right," says Henry. "I was planning to shoot myself on my deathbed, but now I think I will join them when my time comes instead."

Armin looks down. Eren notices this and nudges him.

"So Armin, what do you think of the outside world?" Eren asks. "I honestly don't know why anyone would wanna go out there unless it is to fight the monsters that wanna kill us."

Carla looks at her son concerned. Grisha smiles but hides it.

"Well there's more than that, Eren," Armin says. "I mean, they can't all be monsters."

"Well, I think it's best that you look for another hobby, Armin," says Carla. "We don't want you ending up like your parents did."

"Although if you have any questions about the outside world I would be happy to talk to you," Grisha says.

"Grisha."

"It's just a few things I learned from my patients in the interior," Grisha lies. "It's no harm, really."

"Then I would like to talk to you a bit myself," says Henry.

"I would be happy too."

—-

Later that evening in his basement, Grisha had a vision through the Attack Titans power. It shows a teenage girl, blonde hair and beautiful, wearing an elegant white dress with a crown on her head. Then she sees him hugging Mikasa, Armin, and Eren. Grisha smiles, glad that his son and his allies will be close to a royal in the future.

After he was done meditating he returned to his work station and handled a vial of Titan Serum. After spying on the Reiss' for a few months he determined the pattern of days they are at the chapel, which holds a crystal cavern with Titan Serum underneath, and which days they don't. Once a month he sneaks into the chapel and steals samples of Titan Serum from their collection. Only one or two at a time to avoid detection. On his chances are dozens of vials. Some are standard Titan Serums, others are specially labeled with numbers that indicate a variation, there is even a serum labeled "Warhammer" that he made sure to keep on his person at all times. Right now he was experimenting with Serum 2, a specialized form of the fluid that enhances memory retention of the person eaten when a shifter inherits their power. Grisha places the sealed vial under a small flame and heats it up. He then pulls out a chemical vial labeled "Acetylcholine".

Grisha knew from the Reiss' notes that the Founder altered regular Titan Serum to contain more of this chemical to enhance memory retention. The chemical "Glutamate" was used along with various isolated lipids and proteins found in the brain to create "intelligent" Titans. The Reiss' used the Founding Titan to alter their bloodline to produce this naturally as spinal fluid so they can all become pseudo-shifters. Allowing them to keep their brains from being absorbed by their Titan bodies. Grisha heated the serum to allow greater absorption of the new chemicals. Then he filled a syringe with Acetylcholine before injecting it into the serum via the cork. Grisha removed the vial from the heat and shook it to allow the chemical to absorb. The Serum for enhanced memory retention was enhanced further, but Grisha wanted more. After letting the serum sit and cool down first a few minutes, he put the vial back on the flame then injected it with a sample of dopamine.

844

Some time later, Grisha got a call from Johnathan Ackerman again. Apparently Tanaka had become pregnant with their second child so they asked Grisha if he could come bye for a checkup. Since Tanaka's mother was no longer with them, they would need a doctor to help them through their second pregnancy. Grisha agreed and asked if he could bring his son Eren to meet Mikasa. They agreed, since they thought it would be good for their daughter to make friends with another child her age. It was raining bye the time Grisha arrived at the Ackermans home with Eren.

"Mikasa?"

"Yes," Grisha says to his son, really hoping that Eren can bond with Mikasa right away. "She's about your age. There aren't many children in these parts, so try to get along with her. The Ackermans are a very special family."

"That depends on how she acts," Eren says.

Grisha let's out a sigh. Of all the times for his son to be stubborn.

"Eren, that attitude is why you dont have any friends."

"I have Armin."

Grisha knocks again. "Maybe they're not home." Grisha then realizes that the door is open and he looks inside. "Mr. Ackerman, it's Dr. Jaeger. Is anyone home? Excuse me."

Grisha looks in shock and horror at the scene before him. There is blood everywhere. Tanaka and Johnathan are lying on the ground in a puddle of their own blood. It looks like Jobs was stabbed but Tanaka had her head split open. It was a horrible sight to behold.

"What's wrong?" Eren asks. "What is it, dad?"

Grisha opens the door wide open and walks inside. It doesn't occur to him to shield his son's eyes from the sight. Grisha's mind was racing. It was always a concern of theirs that they would be targeted due to their respective bloodlines. But he'd heard that the Military Police stopped hunting their clans down years ago. He pieced together that someone had broken into their home, likely for a robbery. But what Grisha is most concerned about right now is Mikasa. He really wanted her to become close to Eren. To fulfill the vision he saw.

"Huh-?" Eren gasps.

"Damn it. Eren, look around the house," Grisha commands.

"But dad, what-"

"Now! Eren!" Grisha snaps.

Eren runs into the kitchen. He looks around and sees no one. Then he checks the other rooms. He even looks out the windows to see if anyone is outside, but no one's there.

"It was kidnappers, Eren," Grisha says as he examines the body.

Eren arrives back in the living room and freezes when he hears his dad speak. The boy slowly turns back around to look at his father and the dead man.

"Tanaka and Mikasa were the last two people with Asian blood in the Walls," Grisha says as he checks Johnathans body, seeing the stab wound in his abdomen. "They were concerned about someone holding them for ransom."

"Ran-som?" Eren asks.

As Eren seethes, Grisha checks Tanaka's body. He finds a large gapping split in her head. He kneels before Tanakas body and checks her vitals just to be sure. There is nothing.

"Too late," Grisha turns to Eren. "Eren, have you seen the girl, Mikasa, anywhere nearby?"

"No," Eren replies.

"All right," Grisha replies as he stands up.

He knows that they must have taken Mikasa. One could only imagine what those people would do to her. He has to find the Military Police right away. Not just for the sake of the girls, but for the sake of his mission and the vision he saw. Grisah was very thankful that the government stopped hunting Ackermans and Asians some years ago, otherwise they would have had a bigger problem on their hands.

"I'll get the Military Police and have them conduct a search," Grisha says to Eren. "You'll wait at the foot of the mountain. Is that clear, Eren?"

However, the boy continued to stare ahead with intense eyes.

"Eren!" Grisha asks again.

After he receives no response Grisha just rushes out of the house without him.

'I really should have taken Eren with me,' Grisha realizes as he is halfway to the Military Police headquarters. 'I don't know what I was thinking, leaving him alone in the woods, with a murderer on the loose… Yeah, I made a mistake. I guess I was too focused on finding Mikasa. God, one more thing to ask Eren not to tell Carla about. Oh well, he was fine in my vision. I'm sure he will be safe.'

After arriving at the Military Police Headquarters and telling them about what he saw he led them to the Ackermans home. They examined the bodies and did a forensics search around the house for any traces of DNA. When they didn't find anything they did a search around the forest and Grisha pestered them for results. Finally, they found a cabin and three dead bodies. Along with Mikasa.

Grisha walks into the cabin and he sees the three men responsible for the Ackermans deaths on the floor. He subtly smirks to himself at the karmic justice. And the best part was that Mikasa was alive. By the look of things it seems like the fear of being kidnapped awakened her power. A good thing, both for this incident and in the future.

"You're never gonna believe what happened," the MP who was checking on Mikasa says to his partner.

"The girl killed them all," Grisha says pleased.

"No, just one."

"One?" Grisha asks. "Then what happened to the others?"

"They were killed by another kid! He says his name is Eren Jaeger!"

Grisha gasps. Fatherly protectiveness washing over him.

'No, I told Eren to wait at the door of the mountain. He didn't! Did he!?'

"Jaeger?" the partner asks, then he turns to Grisha. "One of yours?"

Grisha doesn't respond. He just runs outside and sees Eren sitting with a very dejected-looking Mikasa.

"Eren!"

"Dad!"

Grisha rushes over and he hugs his son, grateful that he's still alive. Then the relief turns to anger over his son facing two men and risking his life like that. As well as a slight bit of concern over a NINE year old killing them. While he was counting on Eren being ruthless against his enemies, the fact that he tracked down and killed two people at such a young age filled him with both pride and disturbance. He breaks from the hug and grips Eren's shoulders.

"I told you to wait at the foot of the mountain. Do you have any idea what you've done?!"

"I got rid of some dangerous animals!" Eren declared. "They were beasts in human form!"

"Eren!"

"They would've been long gone by the time the Military Police arrived! It would've been too late!"

"Even so, you were just lucky, Eren! The way you casually threw your life away is what I'm angry about!"

Eren starts to cry. "But,I wanted to save her as fast as I could."

Grisha looks at his son's saddened face. His words remind him of when Faye died. He would have killed a hundred men to save her. Who was he to condemn Eren for this. He stands up and turns his attention to the girls, who is no doubt traumatized after losing her parents and everything else. The poor orphan, Mikasa Ackerman.

"Mikasa, do you remember me? We met several times before when you were little."

"Dr. Yeager, how do I get home from here?" Mikasa asks. "I'm cold. I have nowhere to go now."

Grisha's heart ached. This girl before him wasn't anything like the warrior he saw in his vision. For a moment Grisha forgot his mission. This wasn't some piece to it, this was a broken little girl who just lost her family. Eren takes off his scarf and wraps it sloppily around her head.

"You can keep this," Eren tells her. "Warm, isn't it?"

Mikasa blushes. "It's warm," she replies.

Grisha smiles sadly at the scene. His previous worry over Eren washes away. As long as he can be gentle and compassionate to his own, that was all he needed.

"Mikasa, come live with us."

"Huh?"

"You've been through a lot," Grisha tells her. "You need plenty of rest."

"What is it?" Eren asks her as he grabs her sleeve. "C'mon, let's go already. To our home."

Mikasa cried. "Ok."

Grisha has a bitter sweet smile on his face. This wasn't how he intended it, but at least now his son has an Ackerman who is devoted to him. Very devoted, by the looks of it.

"Oh, the poor girl," Carla says to Grisha.

They are in their house while Eren and Mikasa wait outside.

"Yes, so I hope you don't mind her staying here."

"Of course I don't," Carla says. "Bring her to me."

"Mikasa, you can come in now!" Grisha yells.

Mikasa solemnly enters through the door, still wearing the scarf around her neck. Carla kneels before her.

"Hello Mikasa. My name is Carla. I'm Grisha's wife. I'm so sorry about what you've been through. We can't replace your parents but I am going to try my best and I hope you can consider us family too."

Mikasa nods and smiles at her. "Thank you."

Grisha pulls Eren, who had been watching the scene, to the side as Carla hugs Mikasa. They step back outside and he closes the door.

"So I told your mother that the Military Police found Mikasa and rescued her from the kidnappers. She thinks you were with me the entire time and she doesn't know you or Mikasa killed anyone."

"Why?" Eren asks his dad.

"Your mother wouldn't understand," Grisha says. "It's best to keep it between us. But there is one very important thing I want to ask you. You wouldn't do what you did to those men to anyone else, right? What about those boys who beat you and Armin up?"

"No. Of course not, dad," Eren says. "Sure I hate those guys but unless they are killing people or taking them as…" Eren growls. "…rape slaves like those two did with Mikasa, I'm not going to kill them. I'll kick their asses but not that. I'm not a monster."

Grisha smiles.

"Good, I just wanted to be sure." He rubs Eren's head. "Hey, I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier. I was just concerned for your safety. I'm very proud of you. Most grown men wouldn't have been able to do what you did."

Eren beams in pride. Then Grisha's expression becomes serious again.

"Seriously, though. Don't tell anyone about this. And don't do it again."

A Few Days Later,

Grisha selects Serum 4B from his shelf of serums in his study. It was one of the serums that he enhanced personally. Since the Ackermans became hunted by the crown, high-ranking members of the Military Police were given an altered Titan serum that basically makes them Pseudo-Ackermans. It enhances the strength, speed, and reflexes of an Eldian to Ackerman levels. But they lack the shared memory link between them, which also makes them susceptible to control and memory alteration by the Founding Titan. Grisha took a sample of this serum and altered it to enhance its properties. This included mixing it with his own Attack Titan spinal fluid and proteins found in neurological pathways as well as muscle fibers.

He leaves his basement and sees Mikasa helping Carla fold the laundry outside. Mikasa still wore the scarf that Eren gave her around her neck although since the incident she's been aloof and off-putting to everyone else besides him, Carla, and Eren. Though he was glad when Eren said she got along well with Armin when he introduced them. He let Mikasa adjust to her new life for a few days. Now it is time to get back on track.

"Mikasa, can you come here please?" Grisha calls, holding a Syringe of Serum 4B in his hand.

Mikasa approaches him and Grisha leads her into her bedroom. Grisha then thinks of a big lie.

"Mikasa. I didn't want to give this to you now because you were still recovering. But I'm concerned about what kinds of diseases you might have gotten in the conditions you were in." He shows her the syringe. "I'm going to give you a shot, ok? Just a little booster to make you stronger."

"What about Eren?" Mikasa asks.

"He is fine, he wasn't as exposed as you were," Grisha tells her. "Tine will tell if he needs a dosage or not." He extends his hand. "Your arm, please."

Mikasa does what he says and she gives Dr. Jaeger her arm. Grisha rolls up her sleeve and places the needle above her most prominent vein.

"Brace yourself, this will hurt," Grisha warns her.

Mikasa winces as soon as the needle pierces her skin. But as soon as Grisha injects the fluid into her bloodstream, Mikasa feels…different. She feels a current of power rush through her body. It was like back at the cabin right before she saved Eren, but even stronger. For a brief moment she saw a vision of a desert and a young blonde girl, then of a tall sand sculpture becoming bigger. She felt stronger. Tougher. More durable. She felt invincible. That she could do anything. And when Grisha saw her eyes spark, static electricity form at her fingertips, and the end of the needle that was under Mikasa's skin break off while steam sealed the tiny hole shut, he knew it was a success.

"How do you feel?"

"Like…I could lift a car," Mikasa says in awe.

Grisha chuckles. "I'm sure you can," he says honestly, though Mikasa thinks it is a joke.

So in this story, Mikasa will be even MORE powerful than she was in canon. You will see how soon enough.

Grisha's interactions with Eren and Mikasa here were partly inspired by a (now deleted) fanfic called Kyrie (Requiem I). It was a Watching the Show fanfic and in it, Grisha is portrayed as rather...unsympathetic with the audience reacting negatively to his actions. Through, the author helped with that a bit, like changing "only have one friend" to "dont have nay friends.". But the audience calls Grisha out for letting Eren see the Ackermans dead bodies, leaving him alone with a supposed killer running around, and (supposedly) not trying to tell Eren that it wasnt ok to kill the kidnappers:

Sasha: "That's it? Nothing about the—murders? Not even anything about stranger danger?"

Ymir: "Dad of the year, everyone." (Krista smacks her arm) "Even now? Look at the guy—his kid just killed two men, and he's not even telling him why that's a bad thing?"

Krista: "I—I'm sure he has his reasons—"

I didnt wanna copyright, and I hope I changed the text enough for it to be different, but I feel like how Grisha acted in the story and what they thought of him reflects how he's portrayed in my story. It was clearly written before s4 came out. In it, even Carla's spirit tells Eren that she doesnt forgive him (Grisha) but does understand him. She also tells Eren that Grisha did love him and that counts for something.

All comments are appreciated.