Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Eren leaned back against the cold, damp wall of the farmhouse, his breath uneven as he fought to mask the throbbing ache in his ribs. He was battered, bruised, and perhaps lucky to be alive–but he sure as hell wasn’t about to admit it. Especially not to Captain Levi.

They’d been out in the forest of giant trees, relentlessly experimenting with Eren’s titan form, as they had been every damn day that week, and the week before that. Days of failed experiments had left Eren exhausted and impatient. He’d been standing alone in the clearing, gearless and vulnerable, caught in the middle of another one of Hange’s reckless ideas. Again she continuously yelled. The rest of the cadets watched from up in the trees, their eyes fixed on him as he failed, yet again, to summon his titan form. Blood trickled from his clenched fist, but still–nothing. 

He’d had enough. Enough of struggling to summon his titan on command, only for it to appear when he least expected it. Enough of feeling like a failure every time he couldn’t control this power that was meant to be his. Enough of feeling the weight of everybody’s expectations on his shoulders, as if the squad’s future, perhaps the future of the entire world beyond the walls, depended on him being able to control it. Every failed attempt felt like a step backwards, a reminder that he wasn’t measuring up, that he could never be the soldier, or the weapon, they needed him to be. He was painfully aware of the cadets perched up in the trees, all eyes on him like he was the star of some pathetic show. He could almost hear what they were thinking. What’s wrong with him? Why hasn’t he figured this out yet? Why can’t he control it? We’re all dead!

His fists trembled at his side as the anger boiled from deep within. The frustration, the exhaustion, colliding and crashing over him in a wave he could no longer suppress. It rose and rose until a scream tore from his throat, echoing through the silence of the vast forest. 

For a moment, there was nothing but dead silence. And then, without warning, the ground began to tremble as heavy footsteps approached from behind. Eren didn’t even have time to turn around before the titan had scooped him up, its giant fingers tightening around his body with a crushing force. Panic surged through him and he squeezed his eyes closed as his body threatened to break under the pressure. He was sure he felt a rib or two crack. 

There was a rush of air, a blur of movement, and when he opened his eyes only seconds later, he found himself standing up in one of the giant trees, disoriented and in pain. Below, the titan lay crumpled in a heap on the forest floor, steam rising from the fresh slice across its nape. Levi stood beside him, blood dripping from his sword, his expression unreadable. It had all happened before Eren even had a chance to process. But when he did, he realised that Levi had saved him. Again.

“You good?” Levi’s eyes were fixed on Eren, a rare hint of concern breaking through his usual, unwavering tone. His hand rested firmly on Eren’s upper arm, his fingers firm and grounding, steadying him in place.

Eren’s eyes drifted from Levi’s face to the hand on his arm. The warmth of Levi’s touch burned through his skin, sending a sudden heat to his cheeks. He ripped his arm away from Levi’s grasp. “ Fine!” He snapped, the words coming out harsher than intended, his heart racing as he forced himself to look away.

Another rumble shook the ground, echoing through the trees like an incoming thunderstorm. A rush of titans flooded into the clearing, trampling the spot where he’d just been standing seconds before. The cadets all snapped into action, flashes of silver and green descending in expert precision from the trees. Levi followed after them without so much as a glance back in Eren’s direction, leaving him alone in the tree to wallow in the humiliation of it all. Once alone, he collapsed down onto the branch, pain radiating through his entire body. 

He’d trudged back to the farmhouse, injured and embarrassed, walking side by side with Armin. 

Armin watched him intently, but Eren’s gaze stayed fixed on the ground as he kicked everything in his path and refused to acknowledge anybody. He hadn’t spoken a single word the entire way, still feeling the ghost of Levi’s fingers digging into his arm and the lingering frustration simmering below the surface.

Eren’s fingers drifted absently over the same spot, tracing over it as he replayed the day's events in his mind. He only stopped when he sensed he was being watched.

Levi paced the room like a restless shadow, flitting from one exhausted cadet to the next as he quietly assessed their injuries, his gaze lingering just a fraction longer on Eren. Unintentionally, Eren met his eyes. They were sharp, piercing, and impossible to read. Caught off guard, he dropped his hand immediately. His pulse quickened, the same flush of heat as earlier rising in his chest for reasons he couldn’t quite understand. 

Eren’s eyes darted around the room, desperate to settle on anything other than Levi. He scanned the worn walls, the dusty fireplace, the scattered pile of ODM gear thrown off in haste as the cadets dropped them the moment they walked through the door. He lingered on formation plans for the next day’s mission laying on the table, attempting to commit them to memory as if they might distract himself from the heat rising up into his cheeks and ears. It wasn’t working. He needed a bigger distraction. Something. Anything. 

Desperate, he scanned the room again, only to lock eyes with Jean who was already staring at him. He sat on top of his sleeping bag on the other side of the room, leaned back slightly on his arms and his long legs stretched out in front of him. The corners of his lips were pulled into a smirk, quickly filling Eren with a sense of dread. The glint in Jean’s eyes told him that he’d been caught, as if Jean could feel the tension radiating from his body and was basking in the awkwardness of it all.

“Didn’t think you’d make it back,” Jean fired, sitting forward and clasping his hands together in his lap. “You’re lucky the Captain was there to haul your ass out.”

Eren rolled his eyes and took in a sharp breath. “I had it under control,” he shot back, though his words held no weight. He wasn’t convinced himself.

Next to Jean, Connie unraveled himself from his sleeping bag with an amused grin. “Under control, huh?” He leaned forward, eyebrows raised. “From where I was standing, you were around two seconds away from becoming a puddle of guts.”

Eren sat upright, his jaw clenched, arms crossed. He’d almost healed already, but the sudden movement still sent a wave of brain through his body. But he wasn’t about to show it. “You weren’t even close enough to see what was happening,” he muttered, glaring at Jean and Connie. “You were perched up in the trees like a pair of fucking owls. I could’ve gotten out of there easily on my own.”

Jean chuckled as Eren took the bait. “Sure, Eren. Keep telling yourself that. You looked so helpless I thought Levi was going to personally have to hold your hand through the entire fight.” 

“Shut up, Jean- boy, ” Eren gritted his teeth as he fought to keep his composure. “I didn’t see you rushing in to help.” 

Some of the sleeping cadets stirred from their sleeping bags, peering out to see where the commotion was coming from. By the fire, Mikasa wrapped a bandage around Armin’s shoulder, carefully watching from the corner of her eye. Sasha froze mid-bite, a piece of bread halfway to her mouth as she tuned into the conversation. 

Levi had stopped his rounds to lean back against the wall, arms crossed. His expression remained blank, but his eyes narrowed as he scanned the group. He seemed to be assessing whether the situation warranted an intervention, or if he’d let Eren handle it on his own.

One by one, yet again, all eyes in the room had shifted towards Eren.

“Maybe because I don’t make a habit of throwing myself head first into the fist of a titan.” The amusement on Jean’s face made Eren want to put his own fist through it. “But hey, whatever gets the Captain’s attention, right?”

Between Jean and Connie, Sasha’s eyes widened in disbelief, as if she couldn’t quite process the words coming out of his mouth. She gave him a playful smack on the leg, her expression a mixture of amusement and horror. “Jean!” She feigned a gasp. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

Connie nudged her knee with his own. “Leave it be. I wanna see what happens.” 

Mikasa had stopped mid-wrap, holding the bandage suspended in the air as she and Armin both watched wide-eyed. They shared a glance, as if considering whether to put a stop to it. Mikasa just shrugged in response, but Armin’s blue eyes nervously shifted between Eren and Jean. 

Eren rose to his feet, the familiar anger bubbling its way back to the surface, his knuckles white. “I don’t need Levi, or anyone , saving me!” He spoke through gritted teeth as he waved a fist in Jean’s direction. “If you’re that convinced I can’t handle myself, why don’t you come and find out?”

Sasha leaned in a little closer to Jean to whisper, “you might want to start running now. Just saying.”

Jean waved her off and followed suit as he climbed to his feet. “Could’ve fooled me!” He taunted, his voice carrying across the room as cadets scrambled to pull their sleeping bags out of their path. “Just make sure you don’t end up with any more… performance issues. Wouldn’t want you getting a reputation, Eren. Titan dysfunction is no joke, you kn–”

“That’s enough! ” Levi’s voice thundered across the room, leaving a dead silence in its wake as every head turned in his direction. “If you want to act like children, I’ll start treating you like children.” His eyes darted between Eren and Jean as they stood face-to-face, fists raised in mid-air. “Go to sleep!”

Eren and Jean reluctantly lowered their fists, taking a step back from each other like a pair of scolded school boys. Jean huffed out a chuckle, shaking his head as he made his way back to his side of the room. “Guess the Captain had to save your idiotic ass again, huh?” He muttered, loud enough for only Eren and a few close cadets to catch. Jean collapsed back onto his sleeping bag, only to be welcomed by a shove from Sasha. He threw up his hands in defense. “What’d I do?”

Eren had barely registered Jean’s remark. He was still standing in the center of the room, his attention shifted from Jean to the real source of his frustration. Jean was right, it was the second time today Levi had interfered when he’d been just fine. Except he hadn’t really been fine. He wasn’t even sure why he was keeping up this bravado. He didn’t realise he was glaring at Levi, his face scrunched into an irritated scowl. 

Levi didn’t flinch, meeting Eren’s stare with his own unyielding one. “Keep looking at me like that, Jaeger, and we’re going to have a problem,” he warned.

Eren sucked in a breath, his stubbornness wavering for a brief moment under the weight of Levi’s stare. Levi’s expression remained unreadable, but there was a flicker of something–a challenge, or a warning, he couldn’t quite tell. It was a look that said give up, Eren, stop fighting, one that made any defiance he’d felt melt slowly begin to melt away. 

He didn’t want to have a problem with Levi, couldn’t even understand why he did. The idea of it made his chest tighten, so why was he making this so hard on them both? He’d always deeply admired Levi. He was only two years older than Eren at 19, but his composure made them seem worlds apart. Levi was calm in the face of danger, where Eren was fueled by his emotions and often ran headfirst into it without thinking. It was his own anger that had drawn the titans into the clearing earlier today.

Maybe that’s what bothered him. Because despite how many times Eren threw himself into danger, Levi was always the one who was there to save him and Eren hated it. He wanted Levi to see him as someone who could stand on his own, someone worthy of the Captain’s respect. He didn’t want to always be the kid in need of saving, and he was going to prove it.

The air between them seemed to change. The anger Eren had felt only moments ago had shifted into something he couldn’t quite pinpoint. Defeat, shame? He wasn’t sure, but it stung anyway. They were no longer glaring at each other, just looking in silent curiosity. His arm still tingled where the pressure from Levi’s fingers had left its mark. It made his heart race. Why do you keep saving me? He wanted to ask. But instead, he pulled his eyes away in surrender, breathing out a sigh as he retreated back to his sleeping bag. He faced the wall as he laid down, attempting to block out the rest of the room.  

Around him, cadets shuffled back into their places. Some rolled their eyes, others stifled their laughs. The room became gradually more silent, apart from the occasional snort or whisper that Eren pretended he couldn’t hear, until there was nothing left but the slow breathing and gentle snores of sleeping soldiers. They slept soundly, all apart from Eren who tossed and turned, unable to sleep despite his exhaustion. 

After what felt like hours of staring into the darkness, Eren finally gave up on trying to sleep. His thoughts refused to silence, each one circling back to Levi. He couldn’t stop replaying the moment that Levi had pulled him from the titan, could still feel the weight and warmth of his hand on his skin as he steadied the ground beneath him. The way he’d looked at him, irritation mixed with something else–concern? And then later, the disappointment etched into his face as he’d stopped Eren from knocking Jean on his sorry ass. It twisted something in his stomach, stung way more than it should’ve. Levi had been on Eren’s back since the day they’d met, so why was it bothering him so much now?

Eren searched the room, studying faces in the shadows, but looking for one in particular. He found him by the faint flicker of a candle, seated by a window away from the others. He was awake as always, meticulously cleaning his blades with a precision that was both calm and intimidating. Eren could still feel the tension between them, the unsaid words hanging in the air. 

He’d been avoiding Levi the entire day. He’d been on his ass more than usual lately. Sharper comments during morning drills, cold lingering glares whenever he’d make a mistake, always stepping in and not allowing him to fight his own battles. And then earlier today, pulling him out of the way before he’d even had a chance to fight back. Levi had always been harsh and had high expectations, but it felt like he was singling him out. His words felt different with Eren, like there was something else simmering underneath. And he wanted to know why. He didn’t quite know how to approach it, but he was going to try anyway. Well, the situation couldn’t possibly get any worse, right?

Eren slipped out of his sleeping bag and quietly moved past the others, careful to not step on any sleeping cadets. 

He passed Hange who was hunched over a stack of papers, scribbling furiously as she did every night. She didn’t even glance up as Eren passed, too absorbed in whatever plan consumed her thoughts. One that probably involved him, as they often did. Eren sighed. That was a problem for tomorrow. 

Levi, however, sat by the window at the far end of the room, his focus still on his blades. He didn’t look up as Eren approached, seemingly lost in his own thoughts, or ignoring him entirely. Either way, it didn’t stop Eren. 

Eren took a steadying breath as he stopped in front of him, but the words spilled out, making him wince with his own sarcasm before he could think them through. “Nice save back there, Captain.” 

But Levi didn’t seem to notice, or maybe he just didn’t care. The only response was a flat, “Which one?” 

Eren clenched his jaw, The question annoyed him, more words spilling out before he could stop them. “Why do you have to keep jumping in like that? I don’t need your help all the time, you know.”

Levi’s hand paused on the blade, but his eyes stayed fixed on it. “Is that all you came here to say?”

Eren didn’t know why, but he continued. Levi’s lack of reaction only fueled him more. “I can handle myself, Levi. I don’t need you to keep–”

“Keep what?” Levi finally looked up, his eyes meeting Eren’s with a piercing glare. “Doing my job? Keeping my team alive? Stopping one of my cadets from getting their head bitten off because they’re too reckless to think before they act?” 

He didn’t raise his voice. Didn’t need to. There was no irritation, no anger–just a truthful bluntness that hurt Eren more than if he’d yelled at him. He wished he would yell at him. At least then Eren's frustration would be justified. Any hint of concern, or even disappointment, he'd shown earlier was long gone.

“If you don’t need me to save you, prove it. But until then, don’t expect me to sit back and watch you get yourself killed because you’re too afraid to admit that you need backup.”

Eren’s face flushed, caught off guard by his words. He glanced over his shoulder. The cadets were still asleep, their breathing undisturbed. But Hange had stopped scribbling, her pencil hovering just above the paper. He turned back and sighed. This isn’t at all how he thought this conversation would go. When he spoke again, his words had lost all weight. “I’m not–”

"If you want my respect Eren, earn it. Whining about me stepping in to save you from your own stupidity isn’t going to get you there.” 

Eren swallowed, feeling his argument unravel completely. 

Levi turned back to his blades, his hand continuing the same steady rhythm. “Just get some sleep, Eren.” 

“Bu–”

“Goodnight, Eren.”

Chapter Text

The next morning, Hange’s sing-song voice rang through the farmhouse just before sunrise. “ Rise and shiiine , my brilliant little soldiers.”

Eren sat up slowly, his hair sticking out in every direction. A chorus of groans echoed through the room as the other cadets stirred, their exhaustion hanging in the air like a thick fog. What now? He rubbed at his eyes and let out a loud, dramatic yawn that did little to disguise his irritation. 

His cheeks were faintly pink, a gentle heat rested in them, though he didn’t really know why. The remnants of his dreams clung to him, elusive and blurred at the edges, but they left behind a warmth he couldn’t shake. Something of it felt reminiscent of the way he’d felt in the tree yesterday. Warm, steadied, safe. Levi’s face flashed in his mind– No. The thought made him swallow hard, and he shook his head as if to expel the thought away entirely.

A cold morning breeze brought his attention back to the room. Had he even slept at all? He couldn’t be sure. He sure as hell didn’t feel like he had. His body felt heavier than usual, weighed down with something deeper than fatigue. He blinked as he peered out of the window. “But it’s still dark ou–”

“Science waits for no one, Jaeger. Not even you.”

Around him, cadets stumbled out of their sleeping bags in varying states of disarray. Jean muttered curses under his breath as he tripped over Sasha’s sprawled out legs. Sasha cried out in response, jolting a few others from their sleep. Connie stretched his arms out dramatically, accidentally smacking Armin on the back of the head and earning a sleepy glare. Mikasa was already up on her feet, rolling up her sleeping bag whilst the others all shuffled around like a hoard of zombies. There was an unusual quietness over the room, something that told Eren the tensions from yesterday hadn't quite settled.

Eren climbed carefully out of his own sleeping bag, mindful of his sore muscles, but was surprised to find that he felt fine. He rolled his shoulders and stretched experimentally, testing for any lingering aches or twinges, but there was nothing worth worrying about.

Unfortunately, his titan healing abilities didn’t touch his frustration. That still sat heavy in his chest, an ache that no amount of rest–or lack thereof–seemed to ease. He wasn’t sure which irritated him more: being awoken at this ungodly hour or the fact that he had to face another day under Levi’s scrutiny. 

“Alright, brats,” Hange’s voice boomed from the other end of the room. She stood with her hands on her hips, wide-eyed, grinning like a woman possessed. “Gather round. I’ve got a plan, people. And it’s brilliant. ”

Eren exchanged an uncertain look with Armin, who’s face mirrored his own. Brilliant usually meant suicidal, especially when it came to Hange. Eren knew that firsthand, having been at the forefront of her plans all week. He shivered at the memory.

“ Ughhh, ” Jean groaned from the other side of the room, running a hand through his tangled blonde hair. “What could be so important that you had to wake us at the crack ass of dawn?”

“Only your education, Kirstein.” Hange practically vibrated with excitement as she stood at the head of the large, wooden table. “Now hurry, we’re wasting valuable learning time!”

Eren sighed as he stretched his arms overhead, cracked his neck and tried to shake off the grogginess. His eyes flickered across the farmhouse, scanning faces lit by candlelight. He wasn’t really looking for anyone in particular, or so he told himself. 

But then his eyes landed on Levi. 

The Captain stood silently in the doorway, fully dressed and already looking sharp, his arms crossed over his chest. He watched the cadets in disapproval as they stumbled around, not one of them in a rush, not even the faintest trace of tiredness on his face. Eren clenched his teeth. Does the guy even sleep?

As if sensing Eren’s stare, Levi’s grey eyes snapped to Eren. Eren quickly looked away, pretending to busy himself with rolling up his sleeping bag. His heart skipped a beat, though he wasn’t sure if it was from fear, annoyance, the dream, the way Levi had snapped at him last night. Maybe a combination of all.

“Get your asses in gear!” Levi barked, his sharp voice cutting through the room.

The cadets swiftly jumped into action, the haze of sleepiness quickly evaporating under his command. Nervous energy replaced their sluggishness as they stumbled to their feet, tripping over blankets and muttering half-formed apologies. Mumbles of sorry, Captain, and yes, Captain!

Eren shuffled towards the table where the others were already gathering, still rubbing the last traces of sleep from his eyes. Spread across the worn wooden surface was a chaotic assortment of maps, hastily sketched formation plans, and almost child-like drawings of titans. Empty teacups and crumpled notes lay scattered, evidence of Hange and Levi’s (mostly Hange’s) late night brainstorming session. 

Once everyone had taken their places, Hange clapped her hands together in sheer delight. “Listen up, kiddos! Today is about to be the most exciting day of your entire lives!”

“That’s a low bar,” Connie muttered, earning a smirk from Jean. 

“ Quiet , Springer!” Hange shot him a warning glare before slapping her hands down onto the table, giving its contents a gentle rattle and commanding attention. “Today, we are going to capture a titan. And not just any titan–a big one. A beautiful one–”

Eren groaned and dropped down into a chair, impatiently resting his chin on his hand. “Did you really have to wake us for this?”

“No, Eren,” Levi’s voice appeared from close behind him, making Eren’s eyes widen slightly. “Next time we’ll just skip straight to the part where you and everyone else gets killed. Sound good to you, Jaeger?”

Eren stiffened in his seat, biting back a remark as a ripple of suppressed laughter passed through the group. 

“Alright, alright!” Hange’s voice rose above the murmurs, accompanied by wildly flailing arms. “Let’s focus, people! We have a lot to get through. Pay attention!” She swept the clutter from the table in a dramatic flourish, sending pieces of paper and balls of dust flying onto the cadets, and revealing a large map. She turned the map over with the flair of a grand reveal. Written in bold, uneven letters were the words: 

How to Catch a Titan in 10 Easy Steps - by Hange Zoe.

There was a beat of silence, a round of shared confused glances, before Jean muttered under his breath. “Why do I feel like there’s going to be nothing easy about this?”

“Because you’re a pessimist, Jean-boy!” Hange pointed her finger at him before slamming her fist down on the table. “Now listen up, or I’ll assign you bait duty.”

With that, Jean clamped his mouth closed, though his rather unimpressed expression remained. 

The corner of Eren’s mouth twitched. As much as he disliked Jean, the annoying asshole that he was, the idea of him being bait was admittedly amusing. 

Hange pointed to the first step on her piece of paper. “Step one: identify your titan.” Her grin was manic. “This one is crucial. You don’t want to spend all that time and effort capturing your titan, only to realise you captured the wrong one! It’s happened to me before. Not fun.”

Sasha raised a hand, her face scrunched in confusion. “Uh, how do you know which is the right one? They all look so… you know… titan-y .”

“Great question, Sasha!” Hange pointed to a rather exaggerated looking titan sketch on her plan. “You look for distinguishing features. Unusual height, weird proportions, abnormal movements, a stupid dumb grin. Titan’s are all unique, each with their own adorable personality.” 

Sasha’s face scrunched even further, her mouth open slightly, not at all any less confused. 

“ Or, ” Jean interjected, “we could just throw Eren out there and let him sniff it out. He’s got a connection with the oversized morons.” 

Eren shot him a glare from across the table, the annoyance obvious. “I’ll connect my fist to your face if you don’t shut up.” 

“Ah, young rivalry.” Hange sighed wistfully. “But back to the steps. Step two: lure it in. Titans are like moths to a flame–except the flame is us. And if you’re extra unlucky, you’re the bait! ” She side-eyed Jean, raising her eyebrow slightly at him. 

Eren very much enjoyed where this bait part seemed to be going.

As if reading Eren’s mind, Sasha leaned in towards Connie, her voice in a rather loud whisper. “Bet it’s Jean. He’s got the personality of bait.” 

Jean shot them a murderous, yet slightly nervous, glare.

“Step three,” Hange interjected, ignoring the bickering. “Set the trap. Nets, rope, spikes, or–a personal favorite–a cleverly hidden pit of sharp stakes. Preparation is key.”

Mikasa, arms crossed tightly over her chest, finally spoke up. “And if the trap fails?” 

Hange blinked in response, as if the idea of the plan failing hadn’t occurred to her. Eren could almost see the gears working in her brain. She grinned. “Simple. We improvise.” She snatched a pencil off the table to scribble improvisation! in huge letters beneath step three, covering a sketch of a titan in the bottom of a deep pit.

“That’s not a step,” Armin muttered, his hands dragging down his face in frustration over the non-clear instruction. 

Eren looked from Armin to Mikasa. She sat bolt upright, her eyebrows furrowed. He could tell she didn’t like this plan any more than he did. 

“Step four!” Hange announced, unfazed. “Distract the titan. This part involves a lot of running, dodging, and generally–hopefully– not dying. ”

Sasha slumped dramatically in her chair. “Why does this sound more like a death sentence than a plan?”

“Because it’s fun! ” Hange exclaimed, her eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. 

“Fun for you, ” Jean muttered.

“Step five: secure the titan! ” She mimed wrapping a rope around a horrified looking Armin, who looked like he might bolt at any moment. “This is where you need to use all the strength you have, and be aware of swatting arms. You are nothing but a bug to them. Squished in seconds.” She gestured towards Eren. “Isn’t that right, Eren? You were up close and personal with that yesterday.”

Hmph. Like he needed a reminder.  

The rest of the cadets just stared at her, wide-eyed. 

“Step six: inspect it up close,” Hange continued. “Try not to end up in its teeth. This is where the real science begins.”

Connie grimaced. “Define ‘real science’.” 

Hange fired off the remainder of the steps in quick succession, her voice pitching higher with each one. “Step seven: document everything. Step eight: reassess. Step nine: bask in the glory of your genius. And finally, most importantly, step ten: don’t. get. eaten. Our target’s already been spotted in the clearing up ahead. We’ll lure him in, trap him, and bring him back to the barn for safe keeping. No casualties. No mistakes. No fighting.” Hange breathed out a dramatic breath as she finished her performance. “Any questions?”

The group stared at her in stunned silence, a mixture of disbelief, exhaustion, and mild terror clung to their faces. Eren sat back in his chair, frowning deeply. The whole thing was madness. Complete and utter batshit craziness. A disaster waiting to happen.

“Hange, stop traumatising them.” Levi was the one to break the silence. 

Hange whirled around, undeterred. “Oh, come on, Levi! I’m teaching them valuable life skills.” 

“Yeah. Like how to get killed,” Jean muttered, only to stiffen when Levi’s gaze settled directly on him. 

“Good to know you’re volunteering for bait duty, Kirstein,” Levi said dryly, the colour visibly draining from Jean’s face as the group snickered. “Stick to the plan and you’ll be fine.”

Eren didn’t like the way Levi’s eyes flickered towards him when he said this, even though he was speaking to Jean. Was he already so sure Eren was going to screw it up? “We’re leaving in an hour,” Levi added. “Wrap it up.” 

“Right, right.” Hange turned back to the group that had already begun to disperse with a menacing look on her face. “Actually, speaking of bait…”

Everyone froze, a sense of impending doom. Eren smirked at Jean, who’d spun around so fast he’d almost fallen over, having already accepted his fate.

“ Eren Jaeger, ” Hange declared, pointing her pencil at him like a weapon. “Congratulations. You’re the bait.” 

Eren’s jaw dropped as he looked from Hange to Jean’s equally shocked expression. That smug bastard. As if things couldn’t get any worse–now he was going to be at the center of it all. All eyes on him, the cadets, Levi’s, all waiting for him to screw up again. If he sunk any further into his seat, he’d be on the floor. Shit. “What? Why me?”

Levi’s posture stiffened ever so slightly at this. His arms remained crossed, his usual stoic mask firmly in place, but there was a brief flicker of hesitation. It wasn’t often that Levi seemed unsure about anything, and the moment passed so quickly that none of the cadets had a chance to notice it–except from Eren, who was already looking at him.

For a split second, Levi’s gaze darted towards him, sharp and searching, as if trying to assess whether Eren could actually pull this off. It gave Eren the impression that Hange had somehow gone off-script, improvising at the last second just to provoke a reaction from Levi. The way her grin widened as she glanced in Levi’s direction, paired with the slight arch of her brow, made it obvious she was challenging him in some way. The tension that flickered across Levi’s forehead all but confirmed his suspicions. Whatever plan they’d come up with together, it was clear Hange had rewritten it. And he’d never call her out on it–not here, not in front of the cadets. He’d go along with it anyway. 

Levi looked at him in a way that wasn’t disapproval or even surprise, but something else Eren was unable to read. Levi’s expression hardened, his jaw tightening ever so slightly, only for a second. And then it was gone. “Screw this up, Eren, and I’ll kill you myself.” 

Levi glanced back at Hange who’d watched the entire exchange. He gave her a quick raise of his brow, one that said he wasn’t going to give her the reaction she was looking for. Hange only smiled innocently at him with a brief shrug of her shoulders, decidedly pleased with the reaction anyway. Levi pushed himself from the wall with one hand. Without sparing even a glance over his shoulder, he turned and strode out of the front door.

Eren stayed rooted into the chair, his fists clenched in his lap and glaring daggers down at the plans on the table. He barely noticed as the others left to get ready, their chatter filling the room once again. Behind him, he caught the unmistakable sound of a high-five followed by Connie’s loud woop and Sasha’s laughter. 

“Dodged that one!” Jean’s smug voice carried over to him, grating on Eren’s nerves.

Before he could turn back and snap at Jean, Hange slipped into the chair beside him, dropping a hand down onto his shoulder. She leaned in close, her grin unapologetic. “Aww, don’t look so glum, Eren. Bait’s just another word for ‘most important part of the plan.’ Some might even call it… heroic .” Her voice was light, but her eyes sparkled with mischief. She gave him an exaggerated wink and a gentle pat on his shoulder before walking off, leaving Eren to stew in silence. 

Screw this up, Eren, and I’ll kill you myself.

He wasn’t going to let that happen. Not again. He’d show everyone.

Chapter Text

Eren gave the strap across his chest a sharp pull, securing the last few pieces of his ODM gear into place. Around him, the stables buzzed with frantic energy as the cadets all readied themselves for the upcoming mission. The mission was simple, according to Hange: capture a titan and bring it back to the farmhouse for study. 

Alive.

Eren’s stomach twisted at the thought. Simple? Yeah, right! Everything about it screamed ‘suicide mission.’ His mind could only be described as a jumble of emotions–part dread, part determination, and part irritation. The sun had barely risen over the stables, and yet, he could already hear the world's most annoying voice complaining from somewhere behind him. 

“I swear, if Hange’s ‘brilliant plan’ gets me eaten, I’ll kill her myself,” Jean grumbled, mostly to himself, as he laced up his boots with a harsh pull.

Beside him, Sasha snorted. “And how exactly do you plan on doing that? You’ll be dead.” 

Jean simply shrugged. “I’ll figure something out. I’m resourceful.”

Connie smirked as he stepped into his own gear. “Yeah, Jean. Because being dead never stopped anyone from getting creative. Do you plan to haunt her from the grave?”

Eren barely registered the trio’s bickering, his focus on double-checking his gear. Every strap and buckle had already been secured in place, but his hands continued to fumble over them, tugging at the harness as if trying to take his mind off of his thoughts. He was going to be at the center of the whole thing, after all. Levi was going to be watching him like a hawk and he couldn’t afford a single mistake. This was finally his chance to prove himself. The straps creaked under his grip. If he tightened them any further, he might actually risk cutting off his own circulation.

Beside him, Armin adjusted his own gear in silence, though his furrowed brow betrayed his thoughts. Every so often, he’d pause, fingers hovering over a clasp as if questioning himself before snapping it into place. Then, he’d glance over at Eren, not even trying to hide his concern. 

Sasha sighed dramatically, wrapping her arms around Jean and Connie’s shoulders and pulling them tightly in on herself. “ Boooys , don't be so dramatic,” she told them, sounding way too cheerful for the certain death coming their way. “We’ve got the perfect bait, anyway.” Her grin was wide as Eren peered at her over his shoulder. “What could possibly go wrong?”

Eren’s hands stopped, his focus now on their conversation. He turned around, shooting them a glare. “Hilarious,” he spat out, his voice laced with sarcasm. 

“She’s not wrong,” Jean freed himself from Sasha’s grasp and wandered over towards Eren and Armin with a shrug of his shoulders. He pressed his back against the stable wall beside Eren, one leg up, and clapped a hand on his shoulder, his grin infuriatingly smug. “Titan’s can’t seem to resist you.” 

“ Shut up, horse-face!” Eren snapped, shrugging off Jean’s hand with more force than necessary. His nerves were already shot, and the last thing he needed was Jean’s stupid face in his own. “And don’t touch me! Who knows what I’ll catch from you.”

“Give it a rest already!” On the other side of the barn, Mikasa leaned against the wooden wall, her gear already secured and ready for the mission. She’d been ready for the past fifteen minutes, standing still amidst the chaos as the other cadets whirled around her. She let out a heavy sigh, her arms crossed over chest as she looked at them with the kind of exasperation that only came from a lifetime of watching their bickering. “Can you two just stop fighting for five minutes?”

Eren and Jean both snapped their heads towards her in unison, their frustration momentarily redirected. “ No!” they both shouted, their voices overlapping with almost perfect synchronisation. 

Mikasa closed her eyes and dipped her head, muttering something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like a prayer for patience. “No, of course not.”

With that, Jean let out a low chuckle and pushed himself away from the wall. He raised an eyebrow at Eren before turning on his heel and heading back towards Sasha and Connie. Eren just stood there, staring at the back of his head as he walked, the urge to put his foot through it almost overwhelming.

 Just as his fists clenched, ready to follow through with the fantasy of kicking Jean’s head into next week, Armin shifted beside him. 

Armin moved closer to Eren’s side and placed a gentle hand on his arm, holding him in place. “Ignore them, Eren.” His voice was calm and quiet as he glanced towards the others. “Hange wouldn’t risk something like this if she didn’t believe it would work.” 

Eren sighed, his shoulders softening under Armin’s touch. Armin was right, they had been through a lot worse. And yet, something about this mission gnawed at him in a way he couldn’t explain. The air felt heavier than usual, pressing down on him in ways that didn’t make sense. He took in a deep breath and muttered, “Yeah, well, believing it’ll work doesn’t make it any less insane.” 

Armin didn’t argue, though the faint smile tugging at his lips was oddly reassuring. “No, but it gives us a chance. That’s all we need.” 

Eren’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of heavy boots hitting gravel. The cadets straightened, their murmurs dying away as they turned their attention to their superiors. 

Hange clapped her hands together as she entered the stables. “All right, team! This is it. Operation Titan Bag-and-Tag is a go!” 

Levi, close behind, rolled his eyes at her theatrics. “If we’re all done acting like children, it’s time to move out.”  

Hange grinned wildly. “Oh, let them have their fun, Levi! It’s good to see them getting into the spirit.” 

The cadets began to file out of the barn, each moving with purpose as they mounted their horses. Eren followed suit, climbing onto his own horse and taking his place at the back of the line, but not yet following them. 

Levi stood a few paces away, lingering at the back of the group, his gaze sweeping over them as they organized themselves. When his eyes met Eren’s, they lingered for a moment. Levi gave him a small nod before turning to mount his own horse in one swift, effortless movement. He pulled on the reins, turning to follow the group. 

Before Eren could stop himself, he called out. “ Captain.” 

Levi’s horse slowed to a stop, the steady sound of hooves disappearing as the rest of the cadets rode ahead. He turned around slowly. “What is it now, Eren?”

“Me–being used as bait. Was that the plan all along?” The words were out before Eren could stop them. But it didn’t matter, he needed to know. 

Levi’s eyes narrowed. “Why? You worried?”

“No.” Eren hesitated. He wasn’t entirely sure he was telling the truth. “I just want to know why.”

Levi didn’t reply right away. He shifted in his saddle as if considering whether he was going to tell the truth. When he finally spoke, his voice was low but clear. “No. It wasn’t the plan. Hange has a habit of improvising. You’re not exactly the first choice when it comes to bait, Eren.”

Eren blinked, his mind racing. “So… you just went along with it?”

Levi’s lips twitched. “Sometimes plans change and there’s nothing we can do about it. I never plan for you to make things difficult, but you seem to have a talent for it.”

Eren’s jaw clenched. “I didn’t ask for this.” 

“And yet, here we are.” 

“I won’t mess up, Levi.” 

Levi gave him a long, assessing look.“Good,” he said slowly. “Don’t.” 

Eren paused, his fingers fumbling with the reins. “I know the plan. Don’t you trust me?”

“Trust has nothing to do with it. You’ve got great potential, Eren. But it means nothing if you can’t control yourself.” 

“You think I can’t handle this.” 

“I think you’ve got a bad habit of trying to prove something, and today is not the day for it. This isn’t just about you, Eren. Remember that.” Levi paused, and when spoke again, his voice was a fraction softer. “Don’t make me have to explain to Erwin that we lost our titan shifter." 

Eren flinched slightly, Levi’s words hitting harder than expected. “I won’t let that happen.” 

Levi dipped his head in Eren’s direction. “See that you don’t.”

The cadets rode in silence as they approached the edge of the forest, the horses hooves hitting the floor the only sound for miles. Hange slowed to a stop just outside, the others following behind her. 

“Okay, soldiers,” Hange began, her voice breaking through the silence as she turned her horse to address the cadets. “Our target is a regular 10-meter-class titan that’s been spotted lurking on the other side of the forest. From what I’ve observed, it seems… well, a bit slow. Vacant, even. Like it’s not entirely aware of its own existence–”

“It's an abnormal,” Levi cut in.

“It is not an abnormal,” Hange held up a hand, palm flat and dismissive in his direction. “But I appreciate your input as always, Levi. Trust me, I know my titans. This one seems like it’s almost in some sort of trance, which makes it the perfect target for us. A titan like this shouldn’t be too much of a challenge if we stick to the plan. We drive it towards the trees, lure it in using Eren, trap it, and get it back to the farmhouse. Easy peasy .”

Jean muttered something under his breath that Eren couldn’t quite hear, but it earned a glare from Hange. Her voice raised as she addressed the team, choosing to ignore him. “And remember, we’re here to capture, not to kill. We execute the plan perfectly, and everyone gets home in one piece.”

“And no heroics,” Levi added coldly. “We stick to the plan. If anyone steps out of line, I’ll handle you myself.” 

Eren didn’t have to turn around, he could feel Levi’s eyes burning into the back of his head, making him grip the reins of his horse tighter. He could already hear the lecture forming in Levi’s mind. Reckless. Impulsive. A liability. The words rattled around his head, but he shoved them aside. He wasn’t going to mess up, not this time. He’d already promised Levi. 

As they reached the edge of the forest, Hange raised her hand up into the air. The signal that it was time to split up. “Positions!” She yelled. “Time to make history.”

The formation broke as the cadets began to disperse, each member moving towards their designated location. Mikasa and Jean rode ahead to the far edge of the forest, where they would be the first point of contact with the titan. Their role was critical–to direct it into the forest and set it on the path towards the trap. 

Jean shot Mikasa a sideways glance as they parted from the group. “You think this is gonna work? Or is this just another one of Hange’s harebrained experiments bound to go wrong?”

“It’ll work, Jean.” Mikasa kept her head forward, focused on the path ahead. “Stay focused.”

Jean smirked. “Yeah, sure. Just remember, when this goes sideways, I’m the one who told you so.”

Mikasa’s red scarf trailed behind her, the last thing Eren saw as they disappeared into the thick of the forest.

Hange and Armin were next. As Armin passed Eren to catch up with Hange, he slowed his horse just enough to fall into step with him for a moment. 

“Be careful, Eren,” Armin said softly, his blue eyes sparkling in the sunlight. 

Eren nodded, offering him what he thought was a reassuring smile. “You know me, Armin. I always am.” 

Armin suppressed a laugh. “Sure you are.” 

He didn’t wait for a response, urging his horse forward to meet Hange, who was already calling back instructions to him. The smile slipped from Eren’s face as soon as he was gone. 

“Keep your flares ready, Armin! And don’t let that thing out of your sight, no matter what!” 

“Got it!” Armin called back to her.

Hange and Armin veered left, their horses kicking up dirt as they took a sharp turn. They would be the second point of contact with the titan, the two of them steering it deeper into the woods and keeping it on track.

Connie and Sasha took the right flank, their laughter trailing behind as they rode off to their position.

“Bet you five rations I get its attention first,” Sasha yelled back to Connie, her horse overtaking his with a gentle kick. 

“Bet you five you don’t!” Connie called after her. 

Connie and Sasha disappeared along the edge of the treeline, their role to reinforce the titan’s movements if it strayed off track and ensure every direction was accounted for. 

The only ones left behind were Eren and Levi, their horses shifting restlessly beneath them as they lingered at the edge of the woods. They waited in silence, searching the air for the first of the green flares to signal everybody had made it to their positions. 

Eren gripped the reins tightly, the quiet stretching on for far too long. How damn big were these woods? He could feel Levi’s presence beside him, calm and composed as always, which only made Eren more aware of his own nerves. The longer they waited, the more awkward he felt. He thought he should say something to break the silence, but his mind was blank, only managing to clear his throat instead. Levi didn’t so much as glance his way, though Eren could’ve sworn he saw him roll his eyes.

The first green flare shot up into the sky from the far side. Then another followed from the left, and another from the right, the sign that the plan was ready to go. Eren took in a deep breath, his knuckles white on the reins. 

Levi shifted in his saddle, guiding his horse forward a few paces. He cast a sharp glance over his shoulder, his eyes locking on Eren’s for a brief moment. “Don’t overthink it, Jaeger.” He nudged his horse into a steady trot, disappearing into the forest and leaving Eren behind. 

Levi guided his horse towards the centre of the forest, the last point of contact before the titan would reach Eren. His presence there was meant to be both a precaution and a warning. If anything went wrong, Levi would intercept the titan and put a stop to the entire thing before it reached Eren. He wasn’t sure if this was part of Hange’s plan, or if Levi had insisted. Either way, it was just another way of Levi saying he didn’t trust Eren to do his job.

Eren watched him go, swallowing hard as the final green flare lit up the sky a few minutes later, signalling it was his turn to move into position. He steadied himself on his horse before urging it to move forward. 

Eren didn’t have far to go. His spot was the same clearing at the edge of the woods where he’d made a fool of himself yesterday. Hange thought it would be the perfect place to set the trap. He spotted it as soon as he entered the clearing. The trap was rigged just as Hange and Jean had promised: the nets concealed up above in the trees, the weighted mechanism hidden in the treeline. 

Everything was in place, but it didn’t do anything to ease his nerves. The idea of a trap made by those two wasn’t exactly comforting. One was a maniac, and the other was a plain moron. Eren’s job was simple but dangerous–to lure the titan through the short distance of the final clearing where the nets would deploy. And then get the hell out of the way. 

He dismounted his horse and tethered it to a nearby tree, giving it a gentle scratch behind the ear before leaving it behind. The clearing stretched out before him, eerily quiet, except for the occasional rustle of leaves overhead and the odd bird tweet. 

He moved into the center, drawing in a deep breath as he readied himself. His fingers brushed against the flare gun on his belt. One signal, and it would all begin. He tried to focus on the plan, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Levi’s parting words. 

Don’t overthink it, Jaeger.

Easier said than done. 

A green flare shot up into the sky–the first signal from Mikasa. The titan was coming his way.

A second green flare streaked into the sky to his far left. Armin. Then another, from his right, that would’ve come from Sasha. The team was closing in, herding the titan towards him. The plan was actually working, so far at least.

Eren’s pulse quickened as he waited for the next signal, the final green flare. He could hear it now, the deep, rhythmic thuds of the titan’s footsteps, growing closer and louder. His body tensed, his every instinct urging him to run, to shift into a titan and get out of harm’s way, but he forced himself to stay put. To stick to the plan.

Another green flare shot up, this one closer. Levi’s.

The trees rustled just ahead. 

It was taller than Eren imagined, even for a 10-meter. It wandered into the clearing, dazed and unfocused, its giant steps awkward like it wasn’t quite sure how to control its own limbs. And for a moment, Eren wasn’t sure what he’d been so nervous about. This titan was nothing but a giant, bumbling idiot.  

But something changed when it's hollow eyes locked onto him. It froze mid-step, its head tilting slightly as if trying to piece together a thought. Vacant eyes simply stared at him–until they weren’t so vacant anymore. An unsettling awareness blinked to life within them–a calculating, alarming glare that made Eren’s blood run cold. 

Then, its posture shifted. It crouched low, its muscles coiling like a spring, and Eren froze. Jean’s words echoed in his mind. 

Titan’s can't seem to resist you. 

He barely had time to process the change before it launched forward at him, its giant skeletal hands slamming into the ground as it dropped onto all fours. 

“ Shit ,” Eren swore under his breath, his hands fumbling for his flare gun attached to his belt. 

The titan closed the distance in seconds, the ground trembling under its weight. Its speed was unlike anything Eren had ever seen, its movements blurring into one another as it barreled towards him. 

Eren threw himself to the side just as the titan’s massive hand crashed into the ground. The impact sent a deafening boom through the forest, a cloud of dirt and leaves exploding into the air. The shockwave rippled through the ground, rattling Eren’s bones as his back hit the forest floor in a rough roll.

Gritting his teeth, he rolled to the side, giving him just enough time to unlatch his belt and fire his red flare up through the branches and into the open sky. The flare seemed almost pointless, there was no way the others wouldn’t have heard the commotion. He watched as it streaked up, but the titan was soon above him and blocking out the light, bringing up its hand once more. 

Eren rolled again, dirt and branches scratching at his skin as he narrowly avoided another hit. The titan’s fist smashed into the ground, the force leaving giant craters in the earth. This time, he scrambled to his feet, barely dodging the titan’s next swing. 

“EREN!” a voice yelled from the distance–Armin, maybe, or Levi? He couldn’t tell. He couldn’t focus on anything but the titan. 

Eren scrambled backwards, trying to put some distance between himself and it. But it was too fast, its movements too erratic, and it was already closing in on him. His hands found his blades, and he unsheathed them just as the titan lunged.

He couldn’t use them, he could barely even think. Panic surged in his chest as he attempted to leap to the side, but the titan’s hand swept the ground and caught his leg, knocking him off balance and sending him tumbling back down into the dirt, his blades clattering uselessly beside him.

Fifty meters. That’s all that separated him from the trap, from safety. If he could just make those fifty meters, the entire thing would be over. But lying there, staring up at the titan towering over him, those fifty meters may as well be a world away. Above him, the red flare burned out in the sky. What the hell was taking them so long? 

He pushed himself back up to his feet and grabbed his blades, but the titan was faster. It swiped at him again, and this time, he couldn’t avoid it. Its fingers caught his torso, lifting him in the air and sending him flying backwards into a tree. Pain radiated from his back and shot through his body as he slammed into the trunk, hard enough to leave him gasping. 

The impact blurred his vision, but he could just about make out the titan coming his way. It raised its arm, ready to bring it down on him like a hammer. He couldn’t run, couldn’t outmaneuver it, couldn’t shift. He wasn’t going to make it. Eren braced for impact–

–But it never came. A blur of motion intercepted the attack, silver glinting in the sun. Blades sliced cleanly through the titan’s fingers, severing them in a spray of steam. They landed beside Eren with a dull thud. The titan reeled backwards, a deafening roar filling the air.

“What the hell are you doing?” Levi snapped, his voice ice-cold as he landed in a crouch in front of him. “You had one job: run! ”

Eren blinked, his vision swimming as he struggled to bring him into focus. But when he did, Levi was there, close enough for Eren to see the faint furrow in his brow. What was that– concern? “I–” he stammered, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.

“Shut up and move,” Levi ordered, yanking up Eren by his shoulders and pushing him towards the direction of the trap. “The others are on their way. Don’t screw it up.”

The titan recovered quickly, its eyes once again locking onto Eren. It dropped onto all fours, charging with a renewed energy. Levi didn’t wait. He flew into the air, his blades slicing through the titan’s shoulder, slowing its advance. 

“ Go! ” Levi yelled. 

Eren didn’t need to be told twice. He sprinted towards the trap, his heart pounding in his ears. The titan crashed through the forest behind him, the ground shaking, Levi’s attacks slowing it just enough to not catch up. Finally, the trap came into view, the carefully rigged netting ready to deploy. 

“Hange! Now!” Eren yelled as he crossed the threshold. 

Above him, the netting deployed with a snap, unfurling from the trees and entangling the titan mid-step. It roared, thrashing against the net as it tightened around it. The titan jerked violently, its strength threatening to tear through. The cords groaned under the strain, snapping one by one as the titan clawed at the net. 

Behind Eren, the distant drum of hooves grew louder as the rest of the cadets caught up.

“It’s going to break free!” Armin shouted as he crashed through the trees. The others followed close behind, their horses skidding to a halt behind him.

“Jesus, Eren. What did you do to piss it off?” Jean called, his eyes wide as the titan roared. 

Levi dropped to the ground below the titan with a muted thud, his eyes quickly surveying the scene. “Mikasa, Connie, take the left! Jean, Sasha, go right! Armin, don’t let it break free–move!” His voice was loud and commanding, cutting through the frantic atmosphere as the cadets scrambled into action.

“Levi,” Eren called from behind him, his voice strained.

Levi didn’t turn around. 

“Captain!”

Nothing.

Eren got closer, desperate. He had to explain. “Levi, I didn’t mean to–”

“ What the hell were you thinking? ” Levi spun around, his voice sharp with a mixture of anger and disbelief. His usual composure was frayed at the edges, his hands clenched into fists as he stepped forward, closing the gap between them.

Eren opened his mouth to speak, but the words tangled in his throat. He’d never seen Levi lose his composure like this–not ever. It was as if the calm, unshakable Captain had finally cracked, and Eren was to blame. He swallowed. “It wasn’t my fault. The titan was an ab–”

“You almost got yourself killed!” Levi cut him off, his steel grey eyes burning into him. “If I hadn’t been there, if you’d have been slower, you’d be dead right now. Do you understand that?” He paused, his chest rapidly rising and falling. Eren could see the anger in his face, but beneath it, something deeper. Something that twisted in Eren’s gut. 

“I–,” Eren’s voice faltered under the weight of his stare, not quite knowing what to say. “I wasn’t thinking.” 

Levi’s expression softened for a fraction of a second, and then the anger was back. “That’s the problem! You never think. You’re not invincible, Eren. I can’t sit back and watch you just throw your life away.” 

The words hit Eren like a physical blow, leaving him momentarily frozen. His mind raced, trying to process the words that were coming out Levi’s mouth. He just stood there, wide-eyed, as the weight of it all settled heavily on his chest. He shook his head, words unable to leave his mouth. “Levi–”

“Just stay alive, Eren! That’s all I ask. That’s all I care about.” 

Before Eren could respond, an ear-shattering roar echoed from above, loud enough to shake the ground beneath their feet. The titan’s giant form shifted under the net, thrashing violently in an attempt to free itself. The cadets were already there, their blades flashing as they sliced at the titan’s legs, it’s arms, it’s back. 

Eren looked up to see the titan swaying dangerously, its body stumbling as it tried to regain balance. It was on the edge, barely holding itself upright as its legs began to buckle. With one final slice to the back of the knee from Mikasa, the titan lost its footing. Its legs gave way, and it was coming down right on top of him. 

“ Make waaaay !” A voice yelled from above. “Titan express, no brakes!” 

Eren couldn’t help but stare at it. The sheer size, the weight of it, it was coming down too fast. 

“Eren, move !” Levi warned, his eyes darted between Eren and the titan. 

Eren heard his voice, but his legs refused to move, his mind caught in the terrifying realisation that he was directly in its path. 

With a curse under his breath, Levi lunged forward, placing his hands on Eren’s chest and giving him a hard shove backwards. 

The titan crashed down to the ground in a thunderous heap, its body hitting the earth with enough force to shake the entire forest. Dirt and debris erupted into the air, forming a giant cloud over the clearing. Eren blinked through the haze, releasing he’d been mere seconds away from the titan crushing them both where they stood. 

The titan just barely missed Levi. He stood just a few feet away, his jacket ripped where it caught him on the way down. Dust clung to his hair and uniform, and a thin cut lined his cheek. 

Cadets were scattered across the forest floor, sprawled like fallen leaves in the aftermath of the titan’s crash. The sudden shockwave had knocked them off their feet, leaving them groaning and disoriented as they struggled to push themselves upright amidst the mess.

Before anyone could say anything, a muffled shout came from the head of the titan. 

“Woo-hoo!” Hange popped up from behind the titan’s head, clinging to a clump of its hair as if it were a saddle, her glasses slightly askew. “Did everyone see that landing? Flawless!” Hange climbed on top of the titan’s head to bow to her non-existent audience. “I think I’ve mastered the art of the titan express. Though, full disclosure, it definitely doesn’t come with brakes!”

The cadets stared, dumbfounded, as she slid down the titan’s neck with ease, landing on the ground with a gentle thud. She looked around as if seeing the scene for the first time. “Is everybody still breathing?” 

“ Hange. ” It came from Levi.

“Oh, come on, Captain Killjoy,” Hange replied as she dusted off her pants. Whether she was oblivious to Levi’s fury or deliberately ignoring it was anyone’s guess. “You’ve got to admit, that was pretty spectacular.” 

Eren simply blinked at her in disbelief. He exchanged a glance with Armin, who looked equally torn between shock and admiration.

"This one's mine, Levi," Hange announced as she turned to admire her handiwork, placing her hands on her hips and taking in a deep, satisfied breath. "If you want a titan, get your own!" Her eyes flitted to Eren, and then back to Levi, and she grinned. "Then again, something tells me you already have."

Eren stared at the ground. Directly at it. He didn’t dare look anywhere else. 

Levi stayed silent, but the twitch in his brow suggested he was considering how much effort it would take to rip her head off.

“Not exactly according to plan, I’ll admit. But a successful mission, nonetheless.” Hange took a few steps towards the titan, giving its head an almost affectionate pat. “I’d say Goob was fairly cooperative, wouldn’t you, Eren?”

The titan’s mouth snapped suddenly, its massive teeth clamping shut inches from Hange’s hand. She yelped, leaping back just in time before bursting into laughter. “Oh, feisty! This one’s a fighter!”

“ Hmph, ” Levi muttered. “Eyes on your own titan, four-eyes.” His gaze flicked to Eren, lingering for a moment before turning on his heel and disappearing through the trees. 

Hange clapped her hands together, the sound startling in the silence. “Armin! Notebook out, now! I want everything—behavior, movement patterns, even the way it tried to bite me. Revolutionary stuff, truly!”

Armin, his face pale, fumbled with his bag to retrieve his notebook. “Uh, right. Got it.”

Sasha walked over to Eren, wiping the dirt from her hands, a rather large grin on her face. “You okay, Eren? That was a close one. I thought you were done for,” she teased, offering him a hand. 

Connie chuckled from nearby. “You’ve got guts, Eren. I’ll give you that. I thought Sasha was going to poop herself.” 

Eren scowled, but accepted her hand, allowing her to pull him back up to his feet. 

A few feet away, Jean burst out laughing as he made his way towards them. “Man, that titan really didn’t like you at all,” he said, shaking his head. “I mean, it was like it had a personal vendetta against you. What’d you do, piss it off on the way here? You were practically a walking target for that thing. Might as well have painted a bullseye on your back.” 

“Go to hell,” was all Eren could summon.