As expected, the training assigned to the 104th brigade divided us in two groups. We were to make a round trip to our target location and record our progress. The goal being to see how we would be handling low-pressure activities. The estimated journey to our destination went on for 40 km. It was supposed to be simple, I think I remember it from the third OVA made for the anime.

Trading information would be beneficial for the mission. Another advantage was getting to know more about these people I hadn't seen in the manga. Even our brigade had proven to be bigger than anticipated.

Lately I noticed something strange, these extras, they're not the same. They even seem lost and scared, not even aware of the common sense of this world. I was almost sure, they weren't from this dimension, but from my original one.

For example, Mina Carolina, who died in the first season thanks to the second appearance of the colosal titan, isn't here. Others that didn't appear were the lovey dovey couple, and others who ended eaten by titans. Instead, these kids were a bunch of high schoolers with either Hispanic or English sounding names. The reason why I was paying to much attention to this particular fact was due to a bit of guilt.

Was I even supposed to help them? Technically they were commarades from my world. Would sacrificing them for the sake of my life and my favorite characters be worth it? My team was being led by Carlos Pereira with Suzie Green, my roommate, as record keeper. Notably, we also had people who replaced the extras, leaving me with this list:

Carlos Pereira (captain)

Suzie Green (record keeper)

Kirby Forster (instead of Floch Forster)

Marco Bodt

Daniela Carolina (taking the position of Mina Carolina)

Armin Alert

Natalie Sharma

Jean Kristen

Eren Jaeger

Myself

"Remember we are not supposed to rush"

"We'd be stupid if we did!" Typical Jean, interrupting anyone in charge.

"We all know you just want to be part of the boot licker police. Now, if anyone has an ACTUAL suggestion, I'll be happy to take it into consideration"

According to Suzie, Carlos sympathized with the anarchist movement back in their original world. In a way, that opinion hadn't changed. Case in point, he had already began to rattle off some anti establishment opinions, as well as phrases that would have been said by Eren originally.

Speaking of the latter, his personality was a bit off. I couldn't put my finger on it. Yes, he acted out what he was supposed to, but it wasn't as reactive. Eren seemed to be reciting his lines instead of truly expressing them. Though this could also be my own paranoia.

"That lizard has been following is for a while" this was something Jean would have said originally, not Eren.

"In some cultures, people hunt and eat them" Suzie and her fun facts to the rescue! "I've heard they taste good"

"They do! JINX!" Either Levi has influenced me too much or I'm bitter, because this interaction by Carlos and Natalie was childish.

"Anyways, it's like chicken"

"But they look so gross!" Daniela's whining was an unpleasant addition to my mood.

"Can any of you cook?" Asked Jean, trying to ignore her shrill voice.

My hand along with Suzie's, Natalie's, and Carlos' went up. At least we would be able to have decent food.

"All right then!" The dumb horse face, Jean, decided it was a good idea to break formation. His meek boyfriend, Marco Bodt, along with Daniela, quickly followed.

"Hey! Come back!" Carlos, also a control freak, hated when things broke his rules.

"Hunting and securing food is part of the exercise!"

"Stop it!" Scolded Suzie "You're not the leader, you can't be doing whatever you want!"

"Oh, shut up! It's not like training will get us anywhere!"

"Jean, get a hold of yourself!" Not even Marco's pleas were going to help.

"Look! It left!" And with that, Daniela's shrill voice ended the discussion.

At sundown we were allowed to rest. Honestly, cooking and munching on military rations wasn't my idea of fun. But after a long day, I must admit, it did help tune out arguments and chatter. Maybe this was the reason why Levi loved cleaning. I wonder... will Tori be kidnapped or will it be someone else?

"There you are! I was looking everywhere for you!"

A shiver went down my spine, how come I hadn't noticed Eren close by?

"That is my little secret... you have a nice voice here and in the path"

Cheesy... wait, voice? But I never opened my mouth?

My blue eyes and his olive green ones widened at the same time. As if in sync, we made our way into a less crowded place. Only my horse, Midnight, could see us.

His eyes glinted playfully, yet it wasn't the gaze of his younger self... but one who was sizing up prey. The gaze of a torture enthusiast in a medieval museum.

"Let's do this again" he laced his fingers with mine.

Could he really hear my thoughts?

"Yes, I can"

So can I... what would happen if we let go?

Silence. Only when we were in contact did we hear each other's thoughts. Wait, actually... I could use this!

"I know you swapped the gear. You're just like a mouse, sneaking around, and nobody notices."

Was that an insult? Was I supposed to be offended? Stop laughing! I sighed and shook my head. Sorry... it was broken...

"How did you know that?"

Is that important right now?

"Not as important as you meddling with the Paths"

Do you really want to know?

He nodded. Closing the distance between us, with my eyes shut, I pressed our foreheads together. Slowly, all the information I gathered, started to enter his mind. Was this the right choice? Something told me it was time.

"So, that's it. You know".

I'm not from here Eren... I know as much as your story told me. I don't know why or how I got into this body. You don't seem like the Eren I knew. More like the last version of you I ever read about.

"This is my second life too. Guess it's a chance to change fate. Maybe correct our mistakes."

Widen our minds, because your methods are not going to help exactly.

"No need to remind me. So, what do you want?"

I want my newer friends to live better. Its fine if you dont agree! But... could you lend me your strength in exchange for mine?

"Fine, as long as Armin and Mikasa are left alone"

Now that we had made this deal, the next course of action was to set a trap. If there was going to be a robbery, we could prevent it. We had little to work with. Or so I thought. On the lake, when Eren had looked a way, a familiar reflection smiled at me. Dorothy... the anomaly in the story. Maybe I should call her my fairy godmother. After all, now, I had found some supplies the criminals were going to use.

I grabbed Eren's shoulder. We needed to throw everything that had to do with firearms into the water and lure them inside. If they were all wet and angry, they would have a harder time moving or paying attention.

"Sure, just one problem. How do you plan to wake the rest of them up?"

True, it would be hard enough for both of us to grab everything and do what I planned. But that was the variable I hadn't taken into account. Never mind that, we could wake them up later. Worst case scenario, they had a knife, and... we had trained how to disarm someone.

Eren nodded, letting my shoulder go. All the ammo, and lose bullets, we threw them into the water. The noise would cause some chaos, but that would still be perfect for this. I don't believe they were necessarily dumb... but they didn't have my supernatural aid. Hopefully, they hadn't taken any of the other team hostage.

Click. Click. Clack. "What the hell is this?! Where the fuck are the bullets?!"

"Ours don't have any either!"

I don't want to know how Dorothy had been able to take even the loaded ones. Eren grinned, looking more like his first season self. He was genuine, beautiful. I could have stayed still forever. I would have been gushing about a first date if I was reading about this in my old tablet. The smile I wanted to protect was there again. If only, I could just kiss him like I did the posters I collected at fifteen. Had I been able to meet him before his reincarnation, during the fall... would it make a difference?

Gosh, I forgot he could punch real good! Even the thugs are spitting out blood, with the movements only his older self could've done. It's not that I like watching people get hurt... I'm not a sadist. But with him,when Eren does it! It's just... damn.

Now that we were acquaintances, allies... could he use those upper cuts for me? Maybe Mikasa was, no, IS right. Perhaps the dream is to be shown by his side, the dark brunette calling us proudly. Hey, now that he held my hand... could his titan carry me through the walls towards our freedom? Even if we had to hide underground as beggars, like he did in the past, I wouldn't care how far... just... I wanted to keep this moment.

"We're done here, princess"

Maybe... you will be my king and fight for me, as I will for you...