Titanic Ship

Zeke and Eren walked side by side along the shoreline, the soft crunch of their footsteps on wet sand muffled by the rhythmic roar of the waves. The air was heavy with salt, a tangy sting that clung to her skin and teased her senses. For Eren, this was unlike anything she had ever known, a world untamed and infinite, stretched out before her in rolling blues and whites.

The beach...

Her gaze drifted across the expanse of the sea, and her breath caught in her throat. She had seen drawings, read descriptions in the old, crumbling books Armin used to devour so eagerly, but nothing—nothing—could have prepared her for this.

The ocean was alive.

Each wave rose like a living thing, curling upward in majestic defiance before crashing down with a force that sent sprays of water shimmering into the air. The sun, though dim behind a veil of clouds, cast a pale, eerie light over the surface, making the water glisten like liquid glass. The horizon seemed endless, a boundary between earth and sky that she could never hope to reach.

"So… this is the ocean," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the crashing waves. "From the books Armin used to talk about…" Her words trailed off, carried away by the breeze.

Armin.

She clenched her fist tightly, nails digging into her palm. There was a hollow ache in her chest that refused to leave, a gnawing emptiness that only grew sharper at the thought of him. If only he were here, she thought bitterly. He would've loved this more than anything. Armin had always been the dreamer, the one who could find hope in the smallest things. This ocean… this vast, untamed world would've been his paradise.

Her lips trembled as she spoke again, this time louder, as if daring the waves to carry her words to him. "I hope you're okay, Armin. Mikasa… all of you."

Zeke's footsteps halted, and she turned to see him watching her with an expression that teetered between pity and something colder. His eyes, always calculating, seemed to soften for a moment before he turned his gaze back to the horizon.

"I told you," he said, his tone low, almost gentle. "No one is alive."

Her heart skipped a beat. She bit her lip, forcing herself to breathe through the sudden surge of panic.

"That was just the Levi Squad," she countered, her voice sharper now, almost defiant. "That's all you saw. Erwin… Erwin is a great man. If anyone could keep them alive, it's him."

Zeke tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "Greatness doesn't always equate to survival," he said simply, his voice carrying a finality that sent a chill down her spine.

Eren turned back to the sea, her jaw tightening. She couldn't let herself believe that. Not now. Not when there was still a chance, no matter how slim, that her friends were out there.

The wind picked up, its cold fingers tangling in her hair and carrying the faint scent of decay—rotting seaweed, perhaps, or something worse. She shivered, wrapping her arms around herself as she stared into the endless blue.

"Do you really think they're gone?" she asked, her voice a fragile whisper.

Zeke didn't answer right away. He stood motionless, his gaze fixed on the horizon, where the waves seemed to swallow the sky. When he finally spoke, his words were heavy, deliberate.

"Hope is dangerous, Eren. It blinds you to reality. But if it keeps you moving forward… maybe that's enough."

She didn't reply. Instead, she let his words sink in, their weight pressing against her already fragile resolve. The ocean roared louder, as if mocking her silence, its relentless waves crashing against the shore with an almost violent intensity.

Eren's fingers brushed against the locket she always wore, a small, worn piece of metal that held a picture of her and her friends—Armin, Mikasa, even Jean and Connie, laughing in a moment that felt like it belonged to another life.

As the tide crept closer, she wondered if this ocean, this untamed abyss, could somehow connect her to them. Or if it would swallow her whole, leaving nothing behind.

The ocean stretched endlessly before her, a shimmering expanse of blue so vast it made her heart pound. The waves lapped against the shore in rhythmic whispers, their frothy edges glittering in the sunlight. Eren's breath hitched as she stepped closer, her boots crunching softly in the damp sand.

Her fingers brushed her hair back as the salty breeze caressed her face, carrying the faint scent of brine and freedom.

The books Armin used to pore over, the ones filled with sketches of boundless waters, endless skies, and promises of hope—they didn't come close to capturing this. Tears prickled her eyes. "Armin…" she whispered, clenching her fists tightly. "You would've loved this." Her voice cracked, the weight of her loss pressing down on her chest.

Zeke's calm voice broke through her thoughts. "We're here."

Eren's head snapped toward him, her awe briefly replaced with confusion. Her gaze followed Zeke's pointed finger. A colossal wooden structure floated on the water, creaking and swaying gently. A boat—no, not a boat—a ship, larger than anything she'd ever seen. Its masts pierced the sky, sails billowing like ghostly wings. Workers swarmed over its deck like ants, their shouts and movements almost hypnotic.

"That… that thing floats?" she asked, her voice trembling with disbelief. "It's not sinking?"

Zeke chuckled softly, amused by her wonder. "That's how ships work. Impressive, isn't it?"

Eren could only nod, her mouth slightly open as she watched the sailors hoist ropes and haul barrels. The whole scene was like something out of a dream—or a story Armin might have spun on one of their quieter nights.

As they approached, one of the sailors spotted them. "Captain Yeager!" the man called out, waving enthusiastically.

Eren froze. Her eyes darted to Zeke. "Why… why did he call you Yeager?"

Zeke frowned slightly. "Because that's my name. Zeke Yeager. Why?"

Her heart skipped a beat. "No… no way…" she stammered. "My name… my name is Eren Yeager. Could we… could we be related?"

Zeke's face softened, though his expression remained guarded. "Fat chance," he said with a shrug. "But… I guess anything's possible. Maybe we can figure it out when we get to Marley. A blood test should settle it."

Eren nodded, though her mind was spinning. Blood tests? Marley? She barely had time to process the implications when several sailors, clad in crisp, unfamiliar uniforms, descended upon them. Their eyes flicked to her, and for the briefest of moments, she thought she saw… hatred? Disgust?

Her stomach twisted. Did they know? Could they somehow sense she was a Titan shifter?

"It's fine," Zeke said firmly, his voice slicing through the tension. "She's with me. Take her to a cabin. Make sure she gets some food and a change of clothes."

The men hesitated but ultimately nodded. One of them—a woman with jet-black hair and a sharp, no-nonsense demeanor—motioned for Eren to follow her. As she climbed the ladder leading to the ship's deck, her heart raced. The wood felt sturdy beneath her fingers, but the whole experience was surreal, overwhelming.

Once Eren was out of earshot, Zeke's expression hardened. He turned to the men, his tone cold and commanding. "Listen closely. Don't make her suspicious. Don't anger her, and for the love of all that's holy, don't confuse her. Be kind, act natural, and if she asks questions—play dumb. Understood?"

The sailors exchanged uneasy glances but quickly snapped to attention. "Y-yes, sir!"

Zeke exhaled, his gaze shifting to the horizon. The game was only just beginning.

Û~Û

The gown they handed her was frilly, loose, and utterly detestable. Eren grimaced, pulling at the fabric as if sheer disdain would turn it into a pair of pants and a shirt. Her fingers twitched with frustration. This is ridiculous. She sighed inwardly, her thoughts spiraling. I was a man once... how am I supposed to deal with this now? Not that she'd ever tell them that. Some truths were better left buried.

The ship began to sail, and Eren couldn't help but lean over the railing, mesmerized by the endless stretch of the sea. Waves glittered under the sun, cresting and falling in hypnotic rhythm. Seagulls circled overhead, their cries sharp yet oddly comforting. Occasionally, she'd spot strange fish leaping out of the water, their scales reflecting light like tiny rainbows.

"This is amazing…" she whispered, wide-eyed. Then her stomach churned.

Her awe was rudely interrupted as she staggered to the side, retching violently over the railing. She gripped the wood with white knuckles, the ship's relentless motion doing her no favours.

"Here," came a stern voice behind her.

Eren turned to see the black-haired woman from earlier, her face impassive as she handed over a lemon. Eren blinked at it, unsure.

"It helps," the woman said curtly before walking away.

Eren bit into the lemon, wincing at its sharp tang. Surprisingly, it did ease the nausea, though the woman's intimidating presence lingered like a shadow. "She's kinda scary," Eren muttered to herself, taking another reluctant bite.

The ship swayed and bucked with the waves, its movements almost playful. Eren clung to the railing, staring at the crew as they worked seamlessly, unaffected by the chaos beneath their feet.

"How are they so fine with this?!" she groaned, glaring at the ship as if it were a living thing conspiring against her.

Her attention was drawn to the deck's strange equipment. Cannons lined the edges, their iron barrels pointing ominously outward. Below, she spotted what she'd heard Zeke call "guns." Weapons, clearly, but not like anything she'd seen back home.

"Why does this feel like a warship?" she muttered under her breath.

"It is," Zeke's voice answered behind her.

Eren whipped around, startled. "What?! Why?"

Zeke smirked faintly. "Protection, of course. There are plenty of dangers out here—Titans, pirates, hostile forces. Marley doesn't take chances."

Eren frowned but didn't argue. As the sun began to dip, casting the ocean in hues of orange and pink, she found herself standing beside Zeke again.

"Zeke…" she started hesitantly, "back on the beach… you said this is just a small island? What did you mean?"

Zeke's expression softened slightly, though his voice retained its teacher-like edge. "What you called home? It's just one piece of this world. An island, surrounded by water. The rest of the world is vast, far beyond what you've ever seen."

"An… 'Eye-land'?" Eren repeated, the unfamiliar word rolling awkwardly off her tongue.

Zeke chuckled. "Close enough. It's a landmass, isolated by water. Think of it like a patch of grass in the middle of a pond."

Eren stared at him, her mind reeling. The implications were staggering. Her world—her entire existence—was just a speck on the map? "That's insane…"

"It's the truth," Zeke replied simply.

As night fell, the crew gathered for a simple meal of seafood. The salty tang of the fish was new to Eren, and while it wasn't her favourite, hunger made her devour it eagerly. The constant sway of the ship became a dull background sensation, and her earlier nausea faded to a memory.

By the time she finished, her eyelids grew heavy. The day's revelations and the rocking of the ship lulled her into an uneasy sleep. In three days, they would reach Marley—a place she couldn't even begin to imagine.

Û~Û

Zeke sat in the dimly lit cabin, the soft hum of the ship's engine blending with the rhythmic crashing of waves. The radio's faint static crackled as he adjusted the dial, bringing it to the right frequency. He took a deep breath before pressing the transmitter button.

"Reinhard?" His voice was low but steady.

There was a pause, then a familiar, gruff voice came through. "Zeke."

"You're alone?"

"More or less. Bertholdt's asleep beside me. Why?"

Zeke leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Good. The plan was successful."

A slight shuffle on the other end. "So, you got Eren, huh? Did she put up a fight?"

Zeke allowed a small smirk to touch his lips. "No, not really. I told her her comrades were dead. That Levi himself had ordered her to run. I positioned myself as a potential ally, someone she could trust, maybe even a savior."

There was a low chuckle from the radio. "And she believed you? Just like that?"

"Yes."

"Unbelievable. What an idiot. Well, she's always been desperate, hasn't she?"

Zeke didn't reply immediately, his smirk fading into a more neutral expression. "How are things going over there?"

Reinhard sighed audibly. "It's chaos. The authorities are trying to keep it under wraps that we had a shifter in our ranks. They're still scrambling to hide the fact that Eren was kidnapped. Commander Erwin's being held responsible for the failure. As for Levi… well, he's gone dark. No one knows where he is. And Eren's little friends? They're losing their minds. They're convinced she's alive and out there somewhere, waiting to be saved."

Zeke let out a dry chuckle. "Good luck finding her."

"So, what's the next step?"

"We'll keep her contained for now," Zeke said, his tone pragmatic. "She has three Titans. It's too risky to act without a plan. We'll wait until we find a suitable vessel—or vessels."

"Three, huh?" Reinhard mused. "That's a lot of power in one place. Anyway, I've got to go. Oh, and Zeke? One more thing."

"What is it?"

"Eren killed Annie. So, make her suffer."

The call ended abruptly, leaving Zeke in the thick silence of his cabin. He leaned forward, his elbows resting on the desk as he stared at the dormant radio. Outside the porthole, the stars twinkled against the inky blackness of the sky.

For a moment, his thoughts wavered. Eren was his sister—his blood. But he had already betrayed his parents for the sake of Marley, sacrificed his own flesh and blood for a cause he believed in.

He shook his head, steeling himself. "Duty comes first," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

Û~Û

Author Note: Poor, poor Eren.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Do drop your thoughts in the review section.

Till next time!