DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own the Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) series. I DO OWN my characters and their involvement within the story. Everything else belongs to the original series creator, Hajime Isayama. This story is a fan-made recreation/reimagination. This is only for fun and is NOT meant to be taken seriously.
A/N #1: January, 2025 - THIS STORY HAS BEEN REWRITTEN. NEW CHAPTERS TO EVENTUALLY FOLLOW.
A/N #2: This story contains and includes canon-typical language and violence. Those of you reading this should already be prepared for its contents simply due to watching the show and/or reading the manga. This story is NOT beta read, so please overlook any incorrect grammar/spelling issues that I may have missed.
Last but not least... Thanks so much for reading! I hope you enjoy!
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01.
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CHAPTER ONE — That Day: The Fall of Shiganshina
~§~
...
Over a hundred years ago, humanity suddenly found itself faced with a new predator. They were far more powerful than humans.
Humanity was immediately pushed to the brink of extinction. The survivors built three walls: Maria, Rose, and Sina.
There, they enjoyed a century of peace. However...
...
...
-Year 845: Shiganshina District, Wall Maria-
A cool breeze sweeps through the valley, carrying the sweet smell of wildflowers and damp soil along with it.
Head tilted towards the sky, Rosalie Turner basks in the sensation of the sun's warmth on her cheeks. Her lips parted into a soft smile as blades of grass tickled her ankles with a feather-light touch.
"It's pretty out today, huh, Mikasa?" She asks cheerfully, leaning back on her palms as her striking green eyes gaze at the clouds above.
"Yeah." The girl in question replies monotonously, sending the former an unnoticed soft glance before turning her gaze back up to the sky.
Rosalie's smile grows wider at the simple one-worded response, not at all expecting anything different. Simple was practically Mikasa Ackerman's middle name. She wasn't much of a conversationalist and her blunt responses could even give grown adults pause, but that only endeared her even more to the brunette. They were two sides of the same coin. Where Rosalie would often be loud and playful, Mikasa is quiet and reserved. That's just how it was and how it would always be.
Not wanting the conversation to die off there, Rosalie straightens herself up and turns to her ebony-haired friend, her eyes sparkling in wonder and cheeks flushed from excitement. "Guess what I found out this morning during my deliveries?! The Garners' finally had their baby! Oh, 'kasa, you should've seen 'im! He had the cutest little hands...!" She informs, holding a hand up and flexing her fingers to emphasize her point.
Mikasa smiles, her cheeks flushing at the thought, though she's quick to hide it by burrowing half of her face into the red scarf wrapped loosely around her neck. "That's nice."
"Mmhm!" Rosalie hums in agreement, her focus now going to the patch of flowers a few inches away from her feet.
Mikasa follows her gaze, already knowing what the brunette had on her mind. "The last bunch you picked for Carla have started to wilt." She begins, only continuing when Rosalie meets her gaze. "You should pick her some fresh ones."
Rosalie hums to herself, one hand searching her sweater's pocket for the wool string she kept for such occasions while the other aided in pushing herself up from the ground. "Yeah, that's what I was thinkin'… Hey, 'kasa, maybe after this we should grab Eren and go?"
Mikasa follows the brunette's lead and also moves to stand. "Yeah." She replies as she turns her head to check on the aforementioned boy, pleased to find him still underneath the large oak tree a few feet away.
Rosalie nods in response and crouches next to the flowers, picking the ones that caught her eye.
A peaceful silence once again falls over the two, however, it doesn't last long as a loud gasp emits from their third companion lounging in the shade a few minutes later.
Both girls share a glance before looking back at their friend with concern, though Mikasa is the first to move in his direction with a soft sigh.
"Huh? Mikasa?" Eren murmurs, confused when the girl suddenly leans over him, entering his line of sight.
Mikasa ignores him and straightens her back, returning her gaze to Rosalie as the brunette rejoins their side with a small bouquet of wildflowers in hand. "Let's head back." She orders, heaving her firewood carrier up from the ground as she loops her arms through the straps to carry it on her back.
Rosalie nods and ties the string around the stems to keep the flowers together before following suit. She gets an arm through one of the straps before she teeters slightly to the side, prompting Mikasa to help counterbalance the weight until it was secure, earning a grateful smile from the brunette in return.
Eren watches the interaction as he sits up, his mind still muddled with sleep as he processes where they were. "What am I doing here?"
Mikasa, once again, ignores his question and asks one of her own. "You're so out of it. We're you sound asleep?"
Rosalie laughs, "Apparently. I'm pretty sure he almost started snoring a while ago…"
Eren's cheeks tinge a light pink at her teasing. "No, I wasn't!" He retorts, looking away from them both. "No… It's just, I feel like I had a long dream." He informs, reaching up to rub at his eyes. "What was it about? I can't remember…"
Mikasa stares at him, her brows furrowing as she takes note of the tear tracks on the boy's cheeks. "Eren, why are you crying?"
At the question, the teasing gaze Rosalie had initially set on the boy immediately fades to one of worry.
Eren's eyes widen a bit as he reaches up and grazes his cheek with his fingertips, his surprise growing when he finds his skin sticky and damp from fresh tears.
...
...
"What's with the flowers?" Eren asks, effectively breaking the ice on the silence that had befallen their little trio since leaving the fields.
His question brings a soft smile to Rosalie's face as she turns her head to look at him. "Noticed the bunch your Mama had on the windowsill were starting to wilt, so I picked her some fresh ones."
"What a suck-up." Eren sneers at her playfully, laughing when the shorter brunette puffs her cheeks out in annoyance at his teasing.
"You're just jealous 'cause your mom likes me more!" Rosalie replies, briefly sticking her tongue out at the boy before skipping ahead of the two, intending on ending the conversation there.
Eren lets out a squawk of protest at her statement, hurrying after her with a pout on his lips and cheeks flushed from irritation. "No, I'm not!"
"Are too!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
From her leisure pace behind the two, Mikasa watches them descend into the usual childish argument with fond but keen eyes. It was no secret that the two fed off each other's chaotic energy, what with Eren being a hothead and Rosalie the daredevil that knew how to push his buttons. Putting them together is like adding fuel to an already raging fire and if either were to get hurt while roughhousing, none of them would be safe from Carla Jeager's wrath.
"You're wrong!"
Rosalie shakes her head and stops in her walk to turn and face them both fully, nearly toppling over when Eren bumps into her in his rush to catch up. "I'm right! Ask Mikasa!"
Eren scoffs, "Fine, I will! Mikasa…?" He asks as both turn their gazes to the ebony-haired girl expectantly.
Mikasa stares at the two blankly for a moment before looking in another direction, adjusting her scarf absentmindedly. "I'm not involved in this."
"Pfft... She's only saying that to spare your feelings." Rosalie states offhandedly, letting out a yelp when Eren makes an unexpected grab at her. "Eren, stop!" She laughs, attempting and failing to bat him away as he catches her free hand with one of his own while the other goes for her face.
"No! This is what you get!" Eren replies, trying to keep his smile from growing as his fingers pinch the fat of her cheeks, leaving the skin pink and irritated. "Not so tough now, are ya?"
At Rosalie's responding pitiful whine and pleading look, Mikasa lets out a soft sigh before intervening. Taking a few steps forward, she knocks Eren's arms away and takes Rosalie's hand in her own, beginning to lead the girl away.
"Wha—? Hey, Mikasa!" Eren grouches, mildly annoyed that the girl interrupted his fun.
"Your mother is probably wondering where we are." She states monotonously, her response prompting the boy to follow along, grumbling under his breath all the while.
The next few minutes pass quickly, though the walk back to the gate leading to their home district is anything but silent, seeing as it was either filled with the usual bickering between Rosalie and Eren or Mikasa's blunt responses.
Passing by, and paying no mind to, one of the Wall Cultists "preaching" to the people their usual spiel about how the three Walls should be praised and respected, Eren turns to the two girls scowling. "Don't tell anyone that I was crying." He orders sternly.
Mikasa gazes at him for a moment before looking down at her feet. "I won't." She assures before continuing, "But if you're crying for no reason, why not have your dad check you over?"
Rosalie nods, swinging her and Mikasa's still interlocked hands thoughtfully. "If you're having nightmares, maybe he can do something to help?"
Eren stops dead in his tracks and turns to face them fully, the look on his face telling them all they needed to know of what he thought about their advice. "No way! I can't tell my dad about it." He replies firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"What are you crying over, Eren?" A familiar voice interjects questioningly, halting the trio's conversation as they focus on a blond-haired Garrison Soldier walking toward them.
"Hannes…" Eren murmurs in acknowledgment for the three of them as they all took in the man's flushed face. Their noses burned from the heavy scent of booze wafting off of him.
Hannes grins, "Did Mikasa get mad at you for something? No, wait… Let me guess, she stole all of little Rosie's attention again, didn't she?" He questions teasingly, gently ruffling the small girl's hair.
Eren scowls, sneering up at the man irritated. "Why would that make me cry?! And you stink of alcohol!" He replies, leaning away from the blond with both hands covering his nose and mouth as Hannes laughs.
"Oh, c'mon…!" Someone groans a little ways away from the quartet, making the three ten-year-olds look behind Hannes curiously. There, they see three other buzzed soldiers sitting around a crate table playing cards.
Eren's already apparent irritation grows as he looks back up at Hannes in disbelief. "You're all drinking again?"
Hannes chortles and offers the boy an easygoing smile, "Why don't you join us?" He asks, gesturing to the trio sitting behind him.
Eren's disbelief turns into confusion. "Um, but don't you have work?"
"Yeah! We're guarding the gate today." Hannes replies nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders. "We spend all day here, so eventually, we get hungry and thirsty... And the fact that some of what we drink may be alcohol, well, it isn't too big of a problem."
Jaw clenching, Eren glares up at the male. "Can you fight like that if you have to?"
At the unexpected question, Hannes stares down at the boy in befuddlement. His once carefree disposition faded as his smile becomes strained and uncertain. "If we have to?" He parrots, his brows furrowing, "When would we—"
"When else?!" Eren interjects, his voice shrill. "If they breached the Walls and entered the city!"
Hannes winces at Eren's volume and brings a hand up to clutch at his head. "Ow… Hey, Eren, don't yell like that…" He grumbles, a grimace forming on his face.
It's then another one of the three soldiers— who they recognized to be Hugo— stands from his seat at the table. He strolls over to them, liquor bottle in hand, grinning widely as he wraps an arm around Hannes' shoulders and leans into the blond's side. "The Doctor's son is pretty lively today." He comments to his taller peer before sending the three ten-year-olds a confident grin. "If they ever do breach the Walls, we'll do our jobs. But that hasn't happened in a hundred years."
"How can you do your jobs if you're all inebriated?" Rosalie asks dryly, speaking up for the first time since reaching the gate. The two men look at her, staring for a moment while they process her words. Sighing, Rosalie looks off to the side with a roll of her eyes, "My point exactly."
"But my dad says that you're in the most danger when you lower your guard!" Eren yells again, bringing the attention back to him and the topic at hand.
"Doctor Jeager, huh?" Hannes muses aloud to himself, fingers brushing over his thin mustache thoughtfully before he shrugs. "Well, he's right... He once saved the city from an epidemic. We owe him more than we could ever repay, but that has nothing to do with them. As a soldier, when you go up to repair the walls, you can sometimes see them wandering around outside... But this wall is fifty meters high. They can't do anything about it." He informs, motioning toward the large structure next to them.
Eren gawks at the older male in disbelief. "Th-then you're not prepared to fight them?"
"Nope."
The casual answer surprises the three though Eren, as per usual, is the first to speak up. "What?! Then stop calling yourselves the Garrison and become the 'Wall Repair Corps'!"
Hannes chortles. "I wouldn't mind that." He admits, his smile fading as if his next thought sobers him right up. "But listen, Eren. If we're fighting, it means things are bad. As long as everyone's laughing at us and calling us freeloaders, that means we're all safe."
Clenching his fists, Eren glares up at the two ferociously. "Even if we can never leave these walls for our entire lives, as long as we eat and sleep, we'll survive. But that makes us just like— Just like cattle!" He spats angrily, his response making the two remaining soldiers sitting at the table laugh.
"That's a brave kid you have there!" One chortles.
"Not like he could do anything about it, huh, Hannes?" The second questions, grinning as he takes another swig from his bottle.
Hannes stares at Eren, surprised at the emotion on his face brought forth by the teasing. "Y-yeah..." He stammers in response, sending the two a hesitant smile as the feeling of uncertainty bubbles in his chest.
Scoffing angrily, Eren turns to the two girls to his right. "C'mon, let's get out of here." He grumbles as he grabs Mikasa's wrist to lead her— and in return, Rosalie— away.
Hannes swivels around at the boy's low urging, stepping back as they push past him. "Hey, Eren…!" He calls after them, feeling a little guilty for getting the boy so riled up.
Now a few feet away, Rosalie turns to look back at him. "S-see you, Hannes! Make sure to drink some water later, 'kay?" She calls back, stumbling slightly as Mikasa tugs her along.
…
Hannes gives a hesitant wave, still a little unsure. "Yeah... See you, kids, around..."
"What a strange kid," Hugo comments with a huff, referring to Eren as he watches the three move farther and farther from the gate. He then turns and makes his way back to the table. "C'mon, Hannes, you're dealing the next round."
Hannes hums in response but his brows remain furrowed. "Does he want to join the Survey Corps?" He muses to himself aloud, suddenly a lot soberer than before.
...
...
The walk after the encounter with Hannes and other gate guards was silent, tense, and filled with Eren's angered grumbles.
"What does he know anyway? All he does is sit around and get drunk all day. False peace isn't safe, it's delusional! At least the Survey Corps is doing something! How can they watch them leave the Walls and still believe we're not at war?!" Eren gripes as he marches on, still fuming in anger. "The Survey Corps doesn't get half of the credit they deserve! But one day, that's all gonna change!"
Growing tired of the boy's ranting, Mikasa stops in her tracks. Her gaze practically burns holes into the back of Eren's head as he continues to walk ahead.
Rosalie stops next to her, concerned. "Everything okay, 'kasa?"
Mikasa ignores her, her gaze remaining locked on Eren's form. "Eren, you should stop considering the Survey Corps." She advises suddenly, unbothered when the boy spins around to face her.
"What? You're going to tell me they're stupid, too?" He questions in response, irritated.
"That isn't it..." Mikasa disagrees, opening her mouth to say more but is unable to as warning bells chime loudly in the distance.
Face brightening, Rosalie instinctively turns her head in the direction the sound was coming from. "That's—!"
Eren's eyes light up in excitement. "The Survey Corps is back! The front gate's opening!" He exclaims, grabbing the two girls by their wrists before hastily dragging them along behind him. "Let's go, Mikasa! Rosie!"
Once they reach the plaza, they see a crowd had already begun to form, making it nearly impossible to see the returning regiment.
"Damn it, I can't see!" Eren exclaims, hopping up and down as he tried to peek over the shoulders of the gathered adults blocking his path.
"These are all that made it back?" The person in front of them questions, their tone unimpressed. "Everyone else must've been eaten. That's what happens when you go outside the walls." They add an afterthought, earning a grunt of agreement from the person standing next to their right.
Rosalie looks around, her once furrowed brows relaxing as she catches sight of a few crates nearby. "Over there!" She informs happily before rushing forward. "Follow me!"
Climbing up onto the crates, the three find themselves with the perfect vantage point to see the road.
Following the sounds of hooves and boots on cobblestone, they crane their necks, immediately setting sights on the approaching soldiers.
Rosalie grips onto an ecstatic Eren's sleeve to keep her balance as she leans forward a bit more, scouring the group for her father. 'Please let him be here...' She thinks to herself, eyes scanning the traumatized faces. 'Even if he's injured... I don't care. Just let him be here!'
Tearing up and her bottom lip beginning to quiver, Rosalie almost gives up hope of finding him until she eventually locks gazes with familiar, tired green eyes. Immediately, her frown dissipates and a bright smile takes its place.
Her father returns her smile with a weary one of his own, subtly nodding his head to her in acknowledgment.
She returns the gesture with one of her own, already knowing that she wouldn't be able to speak with him until the next day when he comes to visit her at the Jeager's home. Nonetheless, she keeps her eyes trained on him until her attention is grabbed along with the rest of the crowd by the cries of an elderly woman.
…
"Moses?… Moses?!" The old woman calls, pushing herself through until she comes to a stop in the middle of the street, standing in front of who Rosalie could only assume to be the regiment's current Commander, Keith Shadis. "U-um, my son, Moses… I don't see him. Where is he?" She questions him feebly, wringing her wrinkled hands together nervously.
He stares at her for a moment, his sunken eyes revealing nothing. His initial silence did nothing to aid the tense atmosphere the crowd now held until finally, "This is Moses' mother. Bring it." He orders solemnly, prompting a nearby subordinate to move to one of the many wagons.
When the subordinate returns to the Commander's side, he too, says nothing to the worried mother. Only hesitantly handing her something wrapped in a green cloth that was eerily similar to the cloaks they donned as part of their uniform.
She stares up at the two for a moment before looking down, quickly unraveling the fabric to reveal a severed arm. Letting out a choked breath, she drops to her knees, clutching the appendage tightly to her chest as she begins to cry.
"That is all we managed to retrieve," Shadis informs as he crouches down in front of her. His statement did little to console the grieving mother.
"But my son…" She begins as she looks up at him, eyes wide as tears stream in thick rivulets down her cheeks. "He helped, right? Even if he didn't do anything directly... My son's death helped humanity fight back, didn't it?!"
Her inquiry cracks the impassive barrier of emotion on Shadis' face as he stares back in bafflement. "Of course!" He replies hastily before looking down to the ground, his expression becoming haunted and full of guilt. "No... Our recon this time didn't…"
The crowd was so silent you could hear a pin drop as everyone waited for him to finish his sentence.
Shadis shakes his head, his hands balling into fists at his side as he begins to tremble. "No, we never… We never learned a damn thing!" He finally breaks, looking back up at the woman with an agonizing expression on his face. "My incompetence killed our men! And we still don't know what they are!" He sobs in admittance, tears beginning to stream down his face.
As the words left his lips, low murmurs broke through the crowd. Everyone watches with perturbed expressions as the man loses his composure before their very eyes.
"I'm sorry! It's all my fault! I'm so sorry!"
Three subordinates move forward at this, two of which flank their leader on either side to help him stand while the third escorts the elderly woman to the side and out of the way.
"We should keep moving, Sir." One murmurs as they begin to move again, though the damage was already done.
…
"What a mess." A man standing close nearby comments, garnering the trio's attention.
"You've got that right." Another agrees, narrowed eyes staying trained on the retreating group as they moved farther and farther away. "It's like our taxes all go to fattening them up."
Rosalie scowls at the two men before taking notice of Eren gripping one of the sticks from his carrier tightly. "Eren…!" She hisses though he ignores her, "Eren, what are you—"
Swinging his arm high into the air, Eren brings the stick down onto the back of the man's head with a loud thwack!
The man howls out in pain as his hand flies up to the attacked area. He swivels around to face them, his eyes immediately latching onto an enraged Eren. "What are you doing, you stupid brat?!"
Eren brings the stick up a second time as he opens his mouth to retort, however, he is unable to do anything as Mikasa grabs ahold of his collar and forcefully jerks him off of the crate and around the corner of the building.
Rosalie is quick to follow suit, though just before she could follow the two into the adjoining alleyway, the man grabs ahold of her arm in a bruising grip. Growling, she twists in his hold and kicks him as hard as she can in the shin, forcing him to let go with a loud curse and allowing her the chance to break free and run away.
"Hey! What are you doing, Mikasa?!" Eren yells, flailing around in hopes of loosening the girl's grip as she continues to drag him along.
"Get back here!" They hear the man call out to them angrily as he hobbles around the corner, though he doesn't get farther than the entrance to the alley before they quickly escape his line of sight.
They don't stop running until a few minutes later when they deem that they were far enough away from the angry man and any chance of him catching up.
Rosalie looks over her shoulder, harsh pants leaving her lips as she hunches over to rest her hands on her knees. "I don't think he's following us... I think he gave up before a chase even started."
Despite the brunette's words and the fact that her run was now a very brisk walk, Mikasa keeps going, her grip never leaving Eren's collar.
Eren, however, digs his heels into the ground— even though it does little to help as she continues to pull him. "Mikasa, you can let go now!" He snaps, annoyed.
He quickly gets his wish soon after when Mikasa comes to an abrupt halt. She gives him a brief moment of reprieve before tightening her grip once more, jerking him forward with all of her strength.
Rosalie watches with wide eyes as Eren is sent flying through the air and into a nearby wall, the firewood he "collected" spilling out onto the cobblestone with a loud clatter. "M-Mikasa, don't be so rough...!"
Eren pushes himself up with a grunt and turns his head to glare at the girl. "What was that for?!" He asks angrily, moving to pick up a few of the sticks. "The wood's all over the place now!"
Mikasa huffs quietly and takes a step forward. "Eren, have you changed your mind about joining the Survey Corps?"
Eren pauses in his efforts to clean up the mess they made before quickly resuming his task. "…Help me pick this up."
Mikasa sighs but does as asked. "There isn't much, to begin with." She murmurs, crouching next to him to pick up a stick.
"That's because Eren's a lazy bum who leaves us to do his chores for him." Rosalie taunts, giggling when the boy tries and fails to make a swipe at her ankle when she gets close enough to help.
...
...
Slamming the front door open, Eren leads the charge into the house. "We're home!" He greets, beelining towards the crate they used to hold gathered firewood.
Mikasa and Rosalie pass by him, both leaving their respective carriers at his feet to be unloaded as they make their way toward the kitchen.
"Welcome back!" Carla, Eren's mother, replies with a smile as she turns away from the food she was preparing. Wiping her hands on her apron, she leaves her post and crosses the room as Mikasa takes her place and begins setting the table for lunch.
Rosalie grins widely up at the older woman as she approaches, exuberantly presenting the bouquet she had cradled in her arms. "We picked ya some fresh flowers, Ma!"
Carla's smile brightens, a laugh escaping her at the smaller brunette's theatrics. Taking the flowers, she gives them a small sniff, humming at the sweet aroma they gave. "Thank you, they're very beautiful." She replies, giving Rosalie a tight hug before brushing her bangs back to plant a kiss on her forehead.
Carla then turns to Eren, her gaze both appraising and fond as she watches him unload the firewood. "Oh, Eren! You worked hard for a change! I'm surprised you gathered all of this firewood!"
"Y-yeah…" Eren grumbles in response, the tips of his ears tinting a light pink as he glared at a giggling Rosalie's back as she made her way over to greet his father— who was sitting at the kitchen table.
Amused at his bashfulness, Carla reaches out and gives a quick tug on one of his earlobes as he moves past her before letting go.
Eren winces slightly in discomfort, rubbing his ear as he joins his father, Rosalie, and Mikasa at the table. "What?" He asks his mother, scowling up at her as she moves around him.
Carla laughs softly, beginning to plate the food. "Your ears are turning red. That means you're lying." She replies, shooting him a knowing look. "Mikasa and Rosie helped you, didn't they?"
Eren doesn't answer, and his lack of a proper response only proves her right as he adverts the attention in the room to his father when the older male rises from the table. "Huh? Are you going somewhere, Dad?"
Grisha, Eren's father, nods as he moves away from the table and begins to gather his things. "Yes. I'm going inland to see some patients. I'll probably be back in two or three days."
A content silence falls over the room after he answers, the only sounds being that of silverware against plates as the three ten-year-olds begin to dig into their meal. That is until Mikasa is the first one to speak up.
"Eren said he wants to join the Survey Corps," Mikasa informs suddenly from her seat next to Rosalie, who chokes on her sip of water as the boy's parents turn to stare at him in surprise.
Frozen mid-bite, Eren takes a moment to process what just happened. Once he does, he slams his hands down onto the table, sending the girl a ferocious glare. "Mikasa, you traitor! I told you not to tell them!"
At his lack of denial of the girl's words, Carla rounds the table quickly and grabs him by the shoulders, forcefully turning him in his seat to face her fully. "Eren! What are you thinking?! Do you know how many people have died outside the walls?!" She scolds, her hazel eyes wide in disbelief.
"I do!" Eren replies, his brows furrowed in agitation.
Carla frowns, "You clearly don't!"
"Eren," Grisha interjects and every pair of eyes in the room turn to him. "Why do you want to outside the walls?"
"I want to know what it's like out there! I don't want to spend my life inside the walls, not knowing anything!" Eren replies passionately, staring at his father in earnest. "Also… If no one carries out their work, all of the casualties 'til now will have been in vain." He then sends an envious glance Rosalie's way, "Besides, none of you ever say anything to Rosie about it!"
"You know that Rosalie's situation is different!" Carla argues as Eren turns to look at her. "I may not like it, but there's nothing I can do to change that. If I had it my way, she wouldn't have anything to do with the Corps! So come two years, if she wants to join the military, I can't stop her. The same goes for Mikasa." She explains, staring at him for a moment before realizing her words did not affect the boy, prompting her to turn to her husband for help. "Grisha?!"
"I see," Grisha replies simply, staring at his son for a moment, a strange glint coming to his eye as his grip tightens around the handle of his medical bag. He then turns towards the door, "The ship will be leaving soon. I better get going now."
Standing from her crouched position in front of Eren, Carla rushes to his side as he puts on his hat. "Wait, Grisha! You need to talk to Eren!"
"Carla, human curiosity is not something you can restrain with a lecture," Grisha replies gently before turning back to look at Eren. "Eren. When I get back, I'll show you what I've kept secret in the basement all this time." He informs, pulling out the key that hung around his neck for emphasis, his offer surprising the three ten-year-olds immensely.
Eren's face brightens at the promise, a wide grin forming on his face. "R-really?!"
Grisha nods in response and tucks the key away under his shirt before making his way out the door.
Eren jumps up from his seat and rushes after his father, hastily pushing past his mother as he trots out the door and down a few of the front steps.
Rosalie scarfs down the last piece of her bread with a large gulp of water, wiping her mouth as she too stands and makes her way to the door. "C'mon, 'kasa!" She calls over her shoulder, though her prompting is unnecessary seeing as the taller girl was already following closely behind.
They're quick to join Carla and Eren on the small stone stoop, each giving the doctor their quiet goodbyes in a proper send-off.
"Bye! Have a safe trip!" Eren calls, waving as Grisha's figure became smaller and smaller until he's eventually out of sight.
"I won't let you," Carla informs suddenly, making the three turn to her as she meets Eren's gaze specifically. "Joining the Survey Corps? Don't be stupid."
Eren scowls, "Huh? Stupid?! I think people who're fine with being cattle are way more stupid!" He retorts before turning on his heel and running down the street.
"Eren!" Carla calls, taking a small step forward, however, the boy ignores her as he rounds the corner. Seeing this, she turns to the two girls standing beside her and kneels, placing a hand on each of their shoulders as she met their eyes earnestly. "Mikasa. Rosalie… Sometimes he doesn't think things through and is reckless. When you're in trouble, you must help one another." She orders, making the two nod dutifully.
"We will." Rosalie replies as Mikasa gives a simple, "Okay."
...
...
As Rosalie and Mikasa searched high and low for Eren, they heard familiar voices growing louder and louder the closer they got to an argument taking place in a nearby alleyway.
"What's wrong, heretic? If you don't like it, hit back!"
"No way! That would put me on your level!"
"What?!"
"You know what I said is true. That's why you're hitting me instead of arguing! Doesn't that mean you admit that I win?"
"Shut your damned mouth!"
A cry of pain follows soon after and Rosalie can't help but turn to Mikasa concerned. "'kasa, that sounds like Armin... You don't think those idiots are bullying him again, do you?"
Mikasa nods in response and both pick up the pace. Around that same time, Eren's voice could be heard cutting in. "Stop it!" He exclaims and Mikasa's once-neutral expression darkens.
Rosalie glances warily after Mikasa as the aforementioned breaks into a dead sprint toward the confrontation. 'These guys never learn.' She muses to herself, picking up her pace in an attempt to keep up with Mikasa's speed.
"It's Eren! The idiot's back again!"
"He wants to get his ass kicked? Let's give him what he wants!"
It's at that moment the two girls round the corner, immediately setting sights on Eren as he charges at Sven, Felix, and Viktor— three slightly older boys that always seem to pick fights with the smaller kids in the neighborhood.
The trio immediately take notice of the approaching girls' and their once-cocksure attitudes quickly fade. Their faces became ashen white at the thunderous expression on Mikasa's face.
"M-Mikasa's with him!"
"It's no use! Run!"
"Let's get out of here!"
With that, the three turn and run in the opposite direction and Eren can't stop the pleased grin that forms on his face as he comes to a stop next to Armin's crumpled form. "They ran away when they saw me!" He tells the blond happily.
"No, they ran when they saw Mikasa..." Armin replies, hissing in pain as he tries to push himself up from the ground.
Eren ignores his response and turns to the blond, holding out a hand to help him stand. "Hey, are you okay, Armin?"
Armin stares at the offered hand for a moment before looking away. "I can stand on my own." He murmurs lowly, finally pushing himself up and onto his feet.
Eren lets his hand fall, not bothering to push the subject further. "Alright."
As the blond begins to straighten out his rumpled clothes, Rosalie steps forward and gently helps him dust off his blue sweater. "Y'okay, Armin?" She asks softly, smiling at him when he answers with a nod. She then turns to Mikasa and Eren. "Hey, we've got nothing better to do, let's go to the canal. It's not that far of a walk from here." She suggests, earning herself three nods in return.
...
...
"…So then, after I said that humanity should go outside someday, they hit me and called me a heretic." Armin informs, explaining what had transpired between himself, Sven, Felix, and Viktor before they showed up to help. He then wraps his arms around his knees, curling in on himself as he stares down at the tips of his shoes.
Rosalie sighs softly and leans over, playfully nudging his shoulder with her own. "Well, they're idiots. So don't listen to 'em... There's nothing wrong with being curious and if anyone says that they've never wondered what it's like out there, then they're lying."
Armin smiles shyly in response, his expression a little less solemn than before.
"Damn it," Eren grumbles as he throws a rock into the water. "Why does everyone act like you're crazy if you want to go outside?" He questions, glaring off into the distance at nothing in particular.
"Well..." Armin trails off as he ponders over the question, "It's been peaceful living inside these walls for the past hundred years. They're afraid that if too many of us venture out, we'll risk letting them in. So the royal government declared any interest in the outside world taboo." He finally answers, his gaze leaving his hotheaded friend to look out over the water, admiring how it sparkled in the evening sun.
Rosalie hums and leans back on her palms, gazing up at the sky thoughtfully. "But that's also why they had to create a third military regiment specifically for exploring the outside world— At least that's how Papa put it when I asked him. They had to do something to appease the ones that just wouldn't accept living forever behind the walls." She then tilts her head, meeting Eren's eyes as he turns to look at her. "That's why they say only the "crazy" and "suicidal" join the Scouts. The ones willing to risk it all should be the only ones allowed to leave. Otherwise, it's no one's business and we should forget about it and go on with our lives."
"No one has the right to stop us. Any of us! We're risking our own lives, so that makes it our business!" Eren snaps in response. His anger was not necessarily aimed at the brunette, just the thought of complying with, in his opinion, an absurd law.
"You can't do that," Mikasa replies suddenly from her spot a few feet away, making all three turn to her as she sends Eren a stern look. "No way."
Eren frowns. "Come to think of it, why did you tell my parents?" He asks, his annoyance with her earlier exposure of his dreams apparent in his voice.
"I don't remember saying I'd help." Mikasa answers simply, paying no mind to the boy's glare as she looks away.
Armin looks between the two before focusing solely on Eren. "S-so, how did it go?"
"Well, they weren't happy about it." Eren answers, sulking as he takes a seat next to the blond.
Armin heaves a small sigh. "I figured."
"Well I, for one, think it could've been worse." Rosalie interjects, leaning forward past Armin to look at Eren as she speaks. "Your mother's reaction was expected, but your father didn't seem too fazed by it. He brushed it off pretty easily."
A brief silence follows after her words, though like usual, it doesn't last very long.
"You're right, though," Armin admits, making the three look at him, curious as to where he was going with his statement. "I wonder about those who think staying inside the walls will protect us forever... Just because the walls haven't been breached in a hundred years, doesn't mean they won't be breached today..."
It's then a large echoing boom sounds throughout the district, quickly followed by a shockwave that made almost everyone nearby stumble or fall to the ground.
Armin is the first to recover as he pushes himself up onto his palms. "What? An explosion?"
"Maybe something happened with the cannons…" Rosalie replies nervously, a dreadful feeling beginning to form in her stomach.
Turning their heads in the direction of the main road, the four immediately spot a few adults gathering as many stopped what they were doing to see what was happening.
"Over there!" A man yells, pointing in the direction of the front gates. "I think something fell from the sky!"
His words have people rushing in the indicated direction and Armin is quick to investigate as he pushes himself to his feet and hurries toward the street.
"Hey, Armin!" Eren calls as he, Mikasa, and Rosalie scramble to follow suit.
Rounding the corner, they spot Armin frozen in the middle of the road, similar to everyone else in the vicinity. His gaze locked on the wall in the distance. "What's wrong? What can you see?" Eren questions as they come to a stop next to the blond. Armin doesn't respond and they're quick to follow his gaze.
"Oh my god…" Rosalie breathes, one hand covering her mouth while the other fists at the fabric of her cotton dress.
The once lively city was now dead silent. All eyes turn to watch as a large hand reaches up and grabs ahold of the wall before tightening its grip, leaving large cracks and fissures on its surface.
"No way… That wall is fifty meters tall…" Armin murmurs, practically voicing everyone's thoughts aloud.
"It's one of them..." Eren whispers, his own eyes wide as saucers.
A head appears soon after the hand as the creature stands to its full height, revealing itself to be so large that it could look completely over the wall unhindered. It had no skin; its overall appearance was only that of pure red muscle, tendons, and bone. Altogether, it resembled something out of Grisha's medical books on human anatomy.
"A Titan!" Eren exclaims just as a hole is kicked into the wall where the front gate used to be.
The force of the blow sent another shockwave throughout the district. Screams of terror fill the air as massive debris belonging to the wall and the buildings closest to it blast through the city and fall from the sky, crushing houses and people alike.
Still frozen in place, the quartet could only watch on in disbelief. "It broke a hole in the wall…" Armin whimpers.
Trembling and eyes watering, Rosalie finds herself unable to say anything in return as her hand falls away from her mouth to clutch onto the sleeve of Mikasa's sweater.
The situation could only get worse from there as their worst fears become reality. Multiple Titans', all ranging from three to fifteen meters in height, begin to enter through the hole. Their smiling faces brought forth a new terror as they peered out over the rooftops.
"They're coming inside!"
"The Titans are getting inside!"
At this, chaos erupts all over the city. If they weren't crushed by the falling debris, they were either trampled as they tried to flee or were picked off by Titans as they entered farther and farther into the district.
Eren takes a weak step forward, a sudden realization coming to him as his face loses its color. "My house is over there… My mom is…" He mutters weakly before breaking into a sprint, running towards the oncoming danger instead of away from it. His actions spurn Mikasa and Rosalie to quickly follow after him.
Armin surges forward with his arm outstretched, the tips of his fingers barely grazing Rosalie's sleeve as the girl moves out of his reach. "Mikasa! Rosalie!" He cries out as tears fill his eyes. "It's all over… The Titans are going to take the city!"
"Get somewhere safe, Armin! Go to the inner gate, we'll find you!" Rosalie shouts in response over her shoulder, pushing herself to move faster to run on equal ground with Eren and Mikasa.
...
...
By taking the usual shortcut home, the three quickly find themselves rounding the corner of the street where the Jeager household was located. Their hearts dropped to their stomachs as they all let out a collective gasp at the sight of the completely demolished home.
"Mom?!... Mom!" Eren yells as they get closer, almost immediately spotting her form pinned underneath the rubble from the waist down.
Carla looks up at them deliriously, slowly processing their sudden appearance before her. "Eren..."
"Mikasa! Rosie! Grab that side! We have to get this off of her!" Eren orders as he grabs ahold of the fallen beam that laid across the woman's back. The two girls immediately comply and all three get to work. Their hands became bloody and full of splinters as they tried to lift the wooden debris.
Suddenly, loud footsteps echo throughout the area and the three look up to see multiple Titans' getting closer to their location. Panic fully setting in now, the three struggle twice as hard in their efforts, knowing that it wouldn't be long until one takes notice of their presence.
"Hurry! Mikasa! Rosalie!" Eren shrieks desperately, his teeth clenching together as he uses all of his strength to lift the wood.
"I know!" Mikasa grunts in response as Rosalie lets out a cry of frustration, both trying to force the rubble up with all of their might but getting nowhere as it wouldn't even budge an inch.
Carla stares up at them wide-eyed, their faces telling her everything she needed to know. "The Titans are inside, aren't they?" She questions, her voice weak. Eyes watering, she stares up at her son pleadingly. "Eren, take Mikasa and Rosalie and run! Now!"
"I want to run! So hurry and get out of there!" Eren yells back in frustration, ignoring the order to leave her behind.
Carla shakes her head, "My legs are crushed by the rubble. Even if I get out, I can't run. You understand that, right?" She informs, trying to keep her voice calm for their benefit.
"Then I'll carry you!" Eren argues angrily, glaring down at her in determination.
"Why do you never listen to me?! At least listen to me this one last time!" She yells, turning to the two girls when he still refuses to budge. "Mikasa! Rosalie!"
"No…" Mikasa shakes her head, looking away as tears begin to stream down her face. "No!"
"We're not leaving you!" Rosalie rasps, trying to hold back her sobs but is unsuccessful.
The previous footsteps begin growing closer and even without looking up, they already knew one was heading in their direction, drawn by the commotion they were making.
Carla shakes her head, exasperated by their stubbornness. "If you don't go, all four of us will—" She begins but halts mid-sentence as Hannes approaches on his Three-Dimensional-Maneuver Gear. "Hannes!" She cries, smiling in relief as he nears. "Take the children and run!"
"Don't underestimate me, Carla. I'll defeat the Titan, and save you all!" Hannes replies confidently as he runs past them and towards the approaching Titan.
"Wait!" Carla cries out, "Don't try to fight it!"
As Hannes unsheathes his blades, Rosalie doesn't bother to watch what happens next, opting to instead put all of her focus and strength into saving her mother.
"Wait, Hannes! What are you doing?!"
Eren's yells make her look up and watch as Hannes returns to their side. He picks the boy up and tosses him over his shoulder like a sack of flour before lifting Mikasa next, tucking her under his arm. He then turns in Rosalie's direction and grabs her arm in a bruising grip with his free hand, forcefully tugging her away from the rubble.
Relieved, Carla smiles up at Hannes gratefully. "Thank you..." She murmurs, only now allowing herself to cry freely in front of the three ten-year-olds.
"No…! Wait! Carla!" Rosalie cries out, struggling in the older male's grasp as they get farther and farther away. "We can't just leave her there!"
"My mom is still back there!" Eren exclaims as, he too, attempts to wiggle off the blond's shoulder.
"Eren! Mikasa! Rosalie! You must survive!" Carla cries out to them before covering her mouth to muffle her sobs.
By this point, the Titan had reached the destroyed house and was now digging through the rubble. Its hauntingly wide smile cemented to its face— even as it completed the minuscule task.
Eventually, it finds and frees the pinned woman, picking her up and clutching her tightly in its hands as it brings her closer to its face.
"STOP!"
"CARLA!"
Hannes doesn't stop running, nor does he look back to witness the woman's demise. Mikasa also looks away, leaving both Eren and Rosalie alone to witness their mother's death as the Titan bites down.
...
...
On that day, humanity remembered.
We lived in fear of the Titans…
And were disgraced to live in these cages we called walls.
~§~