Titanic Hopes

Eren's hands were raw and trembling as she scrubbed the grimy bathroom floor, the sting of her wounded pride far sharper than the pain in her blistered palms. Each drag of the brush against the filthy tiles was accompanied by the pungent smell of mildew and waste. It was a smell that clung to her, seeping into her very skin. But she didn't dare stop, not with Captain Levi's stern command echoing in her mind: "Make yourself useful."

There had been no room for misunderstanding in Levi's tone. He meant every word, and Eren knew better than to disobey. So here she was, cleaning up after her comrades. Although he didn't specify how she should make herself useful. It wasn't glamorous, not by a long shot, but it was something. At least she wasn't confined or caged up like an animal anymore. It was hard to believe that just a few weeks ago, she had been on trial for her life.

"I swear, if I have to clean another one of these toilets, I'm going to scream," Eren muttered to herself as she dunked the brush into a bucket of murky water. The stink was overwhelming, and her stomach churned, but she kept at it.

Despite the humiliation of her current task, she couldn't deny the flicker of pride that sparked within her. This wasn't just any squad; this was Captain Levi's squad—the best of the best. Being handpicked by Levi himself wasn't something to scoff at. It was an honor, albeit a messy one.

She glanced outside the bathroom, half expecting one of her new squadmates to pop in and give her a hard time. There was Eld Jinn, the dependable one with a strict sense of duty; Oluo Bozado, who swaggered around like he was Levi's right-hand man; Petra Ral, who was surprisingly kind for someone who had taken down as many Titans as she had; and Gunther Schultz, quiet but unyielding like a rock. They were an impressive bunch, and though they kept a wary distance from her, she was determined to prove herself worthy of their trust. Even if it meant scrubbing toilets to earn it.

Wiping the sweat from her brow, Eren couldn't help but reflect on how much her life had changed in such a short time. Everything was new and strange—her squad, her responsibilities, and of course, her body. Being a girl now wasn't just an inconvenience; it was a challenge. Her human form was weaker, her muscles not as strong or responsive as before. It was frustrating. When she had timed herself running 200 meters, she found it took her six seconds longer than before. Six humiliating seconds. And her grip strength? Pathetic. She could barely twist the cap off a canteen without straining.

But she wasn't about to let that get her down. At least her aim was still as sharp as ever, and though she wasn't as smooth with the ODM gear as she once was, she knew she'd get there. She just needed more practice. And thank goodness for the military uniform—no need to fuss over skirts or feminine frills. Just good, practical pants and boots, the same as the men.

Eren shuddered as she thought about the other new experience she'd had lately—being a lab rat for Section Commander Hange. That woman was relentless.

"Oi, Yeager! Transform!" Hange had commanded, as if asking Eren to transform into a Titan was as simple as ordering a cup of tea.

Eren had gaped at the narrow, dark hole in the ground where Hange expected her to transform. "In a well?!" she had gasped, incredulous.

"It's for science!" Hange had chirped, shoving her toward the edge with more enthusiasm than should have been possible.

Reluctantly, Eren had transformed, her Titan form crammed into the too-small space. The well was so tight she could barely move, but she managed to raise one massive hand out of the opening and give Levi and Hange a thumbs-up.

Hange had cackled with delight, her laughter echoing in the empty space around them, while Levi had simply nodded, seemingly satisfied with the results. That tiny nod from Levi—acknowledgment of her effort—had made it all worth it.

Eren found herself grinning as she absentmindedly scrubbed at the toilet bowl. The captain was impressed by her! Who knew cleaning up this place would bring her this sense of accomplishment? She was going to show them all what she was made of. Nothing could stop her now—

"I wonder what Eren's been doing," a familiar voice drifted into the bathroom, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Eren's heart leapt into her throat. She knew that voice. Abandoning her brush, she bolted out of the bathroom, nearly slipping on the wet floor in her haste.

"Mikasa?!" she gasped as she skidded to a halt, her eyes widening at the sight before her.

There, standing in the hallway, were Mikasa, Armin, Bertholdt, Connie, and Sasha—all of them staring at her with a mixture of shock and surprise. They looked exactly as she remembered them, and for a moment, it felt like no time had passed at all.

Without thinking, Eren flung herself at them, pulling Mikasa and Armin into a tight hug. "I missed you guys so much!"

Mikasa hugged her back, but there was a tension in her arms that Eren couldn't ignore. "Are they treating you badly?" she asked, her voice low and dangerous, her eyes scanning Eren from head to toe as if looking for signs of mistreatment.

Eren quickly shook her head, stepping back. "No, no! It's nothing like that!"

But before she could say more, Sasha wrinkled her nose and took a step back. "Why do you smell like shit?"

Eren's face flushed as she scratched the back of her head awkwardly. "Uh… Captain's orders…"

Mikasa's eyes narrowed, and Eren could practically see the steam rising from her as her fists clenched. "That pipsqueak will pay for what he did to you at the trial!"

"Mikasa!" Armin's voice was sharp with alarm, and he grabbed her arm. "Calm down! It's okay, really!"

Eren could only watch, half amused and half touched by Mikasa's fierce protectiveness. The truth was, she hadn't exactly been having the time of her life, but she wasn't going to let that show. They had enough to worry about without adding her troubles to the pile.

Unbeknownst to them, Levi had been standing just around the corner, listening to the entire exchange with a smirk on his face. He shook his head, deciding not to interfere. It was good for Eren to have this moment with her friends. Besides, he had other things to do. With that, he quietly slipped away, leaving them to their reunion.

Eren turned back to her friends, her expression growing serious as she asked the question that had been gnawing at her since she'd last seen them. She saw that Berthold was looking… glaring at her like she had kicked him on the balls. Why? Was he afraid of her? "What about Reiner, Marco, and Jean?" She asked, avoiding his eyes. "Where are they?"

Jean's voice cut through the air like a knife, cold and bitter. "Marco's dead."

Eren's breath hitched in her throat as she slowly turned to face Jean, her eyes wide with disbelief. "What…?"

Jean's face was hard, his eyes filled with a mix of anger and grief. "His death was useless," he spat, his words laced with bitterness. "He died like a coward… nobody was there to see him die… we found his corpse in Titan vomit."

Eren's stomach twisted into knots, the world around her spinning as she tried to process Jean's words. Marco was dead. The reality of it hit her like a punch to the gut, knocking the air out of her lungs. The idea that Marco, who had been so kind, so hopeful, was gone—just like that—was too much to bear.

The silence that followed was heavy and suffocating, as if the air itself had been drained from the room. Eren's mind raced, a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts, none of them making any sense. Marco… gone? How could that be?

Finally, Jean sighed, his tone softening just a little as he added, "I joined the Scouts because I'm afraid of the Titans. I wanted to do something about it… I couldn't just sit around and wait to be eaten."

Eren nodded numbly, her mind still reeling from the news about Marco. It didn't seem real. Nothing seemed real anymore. "Reiner joined the Military Police," Connie said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Just like he always wanted to."

Before Eren could respond, a sharp voice rang out from down the hall. "Alright, rookies! Here are your uniforms!"

The group turned to see a senior officer approaching, carrying a stack of cloaks. One by one, they each took a cloak, the green fabric heavy with symbolism. It was more than just a uniform—it was a commitment, a promise to fight for humanity's survival. Eren was already wearing hers, having been with the Scouts for a month now, but as she looked at her friends—her comrades—dressed in the same cloaks, a fierce determination surged within her.

'I won't let anyone die!' Eren vowed silently, her fists clenching with resolve

Û~Û

Author Note: Nothing too important happened here but you can clearly see the subtle hints here. The 56th mission is about to begin. However, unlike last time, Annie isn't here, so this begs the question: who'll replace her?

I think you already know the answer.

Question: Why is Eren a girl?

Answer: I can't directly give an explanation, otherwise, it'll not look too great. There will be a few flashback scenes where you need to pick up the hints.

I really appreciate all the reviews. Hope you enjoyed this.

Till next time!