"Let's go to the Mess Hall, I have quite a bit to tell you actually."
***
~Two days later, Stohess Courthouse~
Chewing the inside of my cheek, I stood nervously beside Mikasa and Armin waiting for Eren's arrival. The air was still, not a single word uttered to break the eerie silence that had been upon the room for the past ten minutes. My arms were folded over my chest, my fingers gripping the loose fabric on my upper arm tightly to somehow soothe my distress.
"Y/N." Armin whispers, shuffling himself closer to me. "Calm down, we'll get him out of this." He reassures. I drew in a shaky breath, continually biting the skin on the inside of my cheek before giving out a frantic nod. A hand held itself on my left shoulder, Mikasa, who was previously standing idly to my left, giving my shoulder a light squeeze of reassurance.
My anxiety was through the roof, and though they were good at hiding it, Mikasa and Armin were too. I could sense it. Armin's breathing becomes shallow when he's nervous, sometimes audible when he's breathing through his nose. Mikasa has a tendency to scratch at her sleeves behind her back whilst nibbling on the inside of her lip. Her hand had a slight shake as it sat on my shoulder before she retreated it back to behind her back.
I stood there, staring at a singular stone that sat in the middle of the courtroom near the small pole situated in the center.
"Y/N." Armin whispered once again. I look over at him, furrowing my eyebrows in concern as my hands clenched and unclenched on the fabric on my bicep. "That guy wants you." He voices quietly. I look up at the person he nodded his head at. Everyone down the row was looking forward so I couldn't decipher who he was talking about.
"Which one?" I ask equally as quiet. Armin averted his gaze to look down the row again to, I assume, find features to describe them.
"The one that helped us in Trost, the one with black hair. The short one." He describes turning back to me. My eyes widened as he boldly described Levi.
"Shh! Don't say that!" I whisper shout at him. "That's Levi." I advise. Soon it was his time to widen his eyes.
"Your best friend, Levi?!" He whisper shouted back. I nod vigorously.
"The Levi, you know, Captain Levi? Humanity's Strongest?!" I drill into his head.
"Yes, okay! He wants you to go by him." He whispers back. I let a slow breath out through my nose before stepping back and walking carefully between the front and second row of people. Fortunately, not many people occupied the front. My steps were so loud, I could feel everyone's gazes on me. I kept my head down, brushing passed Erwin and eventually brushing passed Levi's shoulder to stand beside him.
"What?" I whisper to him, my stare switching between the Military Police who occupied the bleachers on the opposite side of the room.
"Calm down." He whispers back, his gaze set forward with a bored expression plastered across his face.
"I am calm." I shoot back offended.
"You're not. Breathe." He deadpans. I take in a deep breath, releasing it slowly through my nose.
"See? Calm." I assure.
"Y/N." He says coldly. I set my lips in a line, furrowing my eyebrows in frustration.
"Levi, I can't help it." I murmur to him with evident concern in my voice. "That's my little brother with his life on the verge of death."
"Trust Erwin." He replied simply. I purse my lips and grip my jacket again. His blank response made me even more concerned, it made him sound like they didn't have a plan at all.
"Fine." I utter quietly.
The door opened, Hange holding open one door as a couple guards aided Eren in, his hands obviously still restrained behind his back. His eyes wandered innocently throughout the hall when he stood still, meeting mine, then Armin's, then Mikasa's. Their eyes lingered slightly before a soldier did something that would make him a dead man had I not have had any self control.
"Get moving!" A soldier exclaimed from behind him, shoving the barrel of the rifle he had in hand hard in Eren's back. My gaze went ice cold, void of anything but anger. The hand that grasped my jacket turning white from how hard I had in my fist. My figure was shaking mildly, though it was still enough to gain Levi's attention.
"Oi." He murmured with grit teeth, kicking me subtly in the calf. "Breathe. That's an order." I huffed, closing my eyes and taking in deep breaths as they forced Eren down to his knees and chained him to the pole. Putting on a dead expression, I open my eyes again, glaring at the soldier who dared to initiate such an action in front of me.
I would've reacted the same way for any of my friends, from Hange to Reece, to Zion all the way to Armin. And God help you if you dare mess with Armin in front of me.
As Eren gazed around in fear after he was chained to the post in the center of the small ascended piece of concrete in the middle of the room, facing the front of the room where the judge would soon appear. The silence was unsettling, causing me to chew the inside of my cheek again and had me fiddling with the leather straps on my chest. Levi purposely exaggerated his actions as he folded his arms over his chest, elbowing me in the process. I suppress a scoff as I turn my head to the empty spot that was intended for the judge.
He entered the room in all of his grey-haired glory. I stare at him blankly as he takes off his grey jacket and folds it up, placing it in front of him as he readjusted his glasses on his bearded face.
"Shall we begin?" His deep voice rumbled through the room. His hand reached forward to pick up a piece of paper that rested in front of him. "You are Eren Jaeger." He begins, narrow eyes focusing between the sheet of paper and the poor terrified boy so knelt restrained before him.
"A soldier who has sworn to give his life for the sake of the walls. Correct?"
"Yes." Eren answers simply. Though his mouth said very few words, I could see a hurricane of thoughts running rampant through his mind.
"Given the extraordinary circumstances, this deliberation will be held as a court martial; therefore regular law will not apply in this situation." Darius continues, his voice somewhat bored and monotone. I subtly click my tongue at his lack of emotion. "I have full decision-making authority in this matter, which also includes whether I allow you to live or die." Eren's head hung slightly as he gazed at the floor in thought.
"Any objections?" The hall remained silent, the only voice speaking being the slight echo of Darius' voice.
"No, Sir." Eren's head fell slightly, a look of concern etched on his face. I let a shaky breath slide out from between my lips as I drag my hand up to my face, fingers covering my lips in anticipation.
"Your astuteness is highly appreciated. Getting straight to the point. Expectedly, keeping your existence concealed is definitely impossible. Unless your existence is publicly disclosed in one way or another we risk the outbreak of a new non-titan threat." Darius voices. "The decision of which regiment to hand you over to falls to me. The Military Police or the Scouting Legion."
We need to win this trial. We have to win this trial.
"Now let's hear the Military Police proposals." Darius Delores.
"Yes Sir. I, Nile Dawk, Commander of the Military Police, offer the following proposal. We believe that, after a thorough examination of Eren's body, he should be disposed of immediately." A man with brown hair and a pathetic excuse of facial hair begins. The entire courtrooms eyes were set on him and I felt myself become completely still.
Dispose of him? Like some type of object?
"It's true that his Titan ability helped us with the victory from the latest mission. However, his existence is now stirring up rebellious ideas as well. As such, after he's provided us with as much information as we can get, he will be labeled as a fallen warrior of humanity." He finishes. My jaw tensed. The nerve this man has.
"There's no need! He is nothing but a rat that has defiled and infiltrated that built by the God's wisdom!" I roll my eyes at the priest who suddenly appeared out of nowhere. "He should be killed immediately!"
"Pastor Nick, please remain silent." Darius orders. Nick falls quiet immediately but was still visibly shaking. "Now, the Scouting Regiment can propose their ideas."
"Yes Sir." Erwin's voice booms. "I, Erwin Smith, 13th Commander of the Scouts Regiment, offer the following proposal. We want to accept Eren as an official member of the Survey Corps and use his titan abilities to retake Wall Maria. That is all." The hall fell quiet for a second.
So they do have a plan. It's just a matter of overpowering the Military Police and being able to go along with the plan.
"Hm? That's all?" Darius asks.
"Yes, Sir. With his help, we can and we will reclaim Wall Maria. I believe it is what our first priority should be." Erwin replies.
"I see. Tell me, from where are you planning to launch this operation? Pyxis. The wall has been completely sealed in Trost, yes?" Darius asks.
"Yes. I doubt its gate will ever open again." Pyxis answers.
"We hope to depart from Karanes District, to the east of Wall Rose." Erwin says. "From there, we head straight for Shiganshina by establishing a new route from scratch."
"Wait a damn minute!" A civilian across the room shouts. "Shouldn't we be sealing all the gates now?! The gates are the only part of the wall the Colossal Titan can break! If we just reinforce them, they can never attack again!"
"Shut up you merchant dog!" A Military Police orders. "With a Titan's help, the retake of Maria can take place and we can go back!"
"We can't put up with any more of your childish heroics!" Another man shouts.
"These guys are giving me a headache." I mutter under my breath.
"You have a big mouth on you, swine." Levi suddenly utters calmly. The entire courtroom turned to look at him, even Eren seemed kind of shocked. "What guarantee is there that the Titans will kindly wait while we bolster the gates? When you say 'we', you mean the friends you're protecting so you can fatten yourselves up. Are you pigs blind to the people who struggle to survive off what little land is left?" I don't think I've ever heard Levi talk so much ever. I raise my eyebrows slightly, displaying my subtle shock to Levi's sudden ramble.
"I-I'm just saying that all we have to do is seal the gates if we want to live!" The merchant speaks back, a slight stutter in his voice.
"Hold your tongue, you miscreant!" Nick demands. "You would suggest that humans tamper with Wall Rose, a gift from God?!" He exclaims. I sigh out loud, not enough for him to hear me but for Levi to side glance me and roll his eyes.
"That wall is a divine miracle that transcends human understanding! Do you still not realize that humanity must not touch it?!" After he said that, his words became muffled and I stared blankly at him, his mouth still moving and the merchant still looking even more confused.
"Oh my God." I say. Peoples gazes shifted to me. "Nick or whatever your name is, do you ever shut the fuck up?" He glared at me, opening his mouth before Darius gained everyone's attention by knocking his hand on the bench.
"Order! I ask that you save your personal sentiments for after the another venue. I wish to make certain of something, Mr Jaeger." He declares. "As a soldier, can you continue to serve humanity by controlling your titan abilities?" He asks. My eyes darting to Eren who was still kneeling restrained with sweat visibly dripping down his face.
"Yes, Sir! I can!" Eren exclaims.
"Oh? But it says here in this report about the Trost battle that just after transforming, you attempted to injure Mikasa Ackerman." My eyes widened, realizing that Rico actually reported that. I swear Eren gained whiplash from how fast he turned to stare at Mikasa in disbelief.
"And who is Mikasa Ackerman?" Darius asks, gazing around the courtroom for the raven girl.
"I am, Sir." I hear Mikasa call from a few people down the row.
"You, hm? Is it true that in titan form, Jaeger attempted to attack you?" He asks. She hesitated before answering.
"Yes." Her voice was somewhat small. "It's true." Eren's mouth dropped open, his pupils shrinking in realization. The courtroom was filled with loud gasps at her honesty and I begin chewing at the inside of my cheek again. Murmurs erupted through the court, making me more anxious.
"However." Mikasa began again. "He also saved my life on two prior occasions while in Titan form. The first time, I was about to fall into the hands of a titan, he intervened and protected me. The second time, he protected Armin and me from a bombardment."
Shit, I forgot Armin told me about that.
"I ask that you take these facts into consideration too." She concluded.
"Wait a minute! I believe that her testimony is also very driven by personal feelings." The pathetic mustache man intervenes. "It should be noted that Mikasa Ackerman lost her parents at a young age and was taken in by the Jaeger family." My eyes widen at the sudden mention of Mikasa's history, my blood getting warmer by the second.
"What's more, our investigation into this matter led us to a most surprising discovery." He brings a piece of paper up to his face. "Eren Jaeger and Mikasa Ackerman, at the age of nine, stabbed and killed three adult robber-kidnappers. Even it was in self-defense, we cannot help but question his basic humanity." The room filled with whispers again.
"Now wait a damn minute-" I begin before Levi put his hand in front of me. My eyes shoot to his as his stared deep into mine, making me freeze before I grit my teeth in agitation.
"Should we really place personnel and funds in his hands, not to mention the very fate of humanity itself?" I huffed, shifting my weight onto one leg before glaring at the regiment across the room as the jury began speaking among themselves again.
"I bet she's one too. I bet she's not human!" A merchant points at Mikasa.
"Oi!" I shout, the room still in uproar. "Put your danty finger away before I shove it up your ass." I seethe.
"Now hold on!" Eren exclaims, the chains jingling as he tugged on them. "I might be a monster but she has nothing to do with this! Nothing at all!" I moved forward and gripped the wooden railing in front of us, gazing down the row to find Mikasa standing there in shock.
"Mikasa." I try to get her attention. She was too overwhelmed to process anything.
"Like we can believe you!" A merchant shouts back at Eren.
"It's the truth!" He argued back.
"She is one of you're protecting her!"
"No!" Eren screams, another violent tug on the chains rattling loud enough to hush the entire jury. "No, it's not like that. But you're all using speculation to push your own selfish agendas!" I look at him, my lips parted as shaky breaths escape from my mouth.
No, Eren, shut up. This won't benefit you at all.
"In fact, none of you have even seen a titan, so why are you so afraid?! What's the use of having power if you're not going to fight?! If you're afraid of fighting for your lives, then help me! You cowards!" Eren shouted.
"What?" The Military Police murmured.
"Just shut up and invest everything in me!" Eren exclaims, silence befalling upon the jury.
"Take aim!" The man named 'Nile' orders. A soldier beside him fumbled.
"Yes, Sir!" The soldier exclaims as he pulls a rifle up and aims it dead at Eren. I gasp, attempting to climb over the railing before Levi pulled me back and jumped over himself, positioning himself in front of Eren. And in a split second, a grunt sounded followed by a painful hit to the face as Levi kicked Eren across the face.
And hard.
I stare in disbelief as a tooth shot from Eren's mouth across the stone floors, the sound of it bouncing across the ground seemingly echoing through the air. Eren regained composure, gazing up at Levi who had a shadow over his face before another kick followed, Eren not even being able to process the any hit coming for him. Levi kept beating him mercilessly, not giving him a chance to even breathe.
"Levi." I whisper, staring at him wide eyed, not daring to blink.
No, this is a benefit. He's showing Eren's vulnerability to the jury. Proving that he's somewhat innocent.
"Mikasa!" I hear Armin exclaim, him grabbing onto her arm as she glared with malicious intent at Levi who continued to beat Eren. The grunts ceased, my eyes shifting back to the two people who everyone's attentions were set on. Levi held his boot on Eren's head, looking expressionlessly down at the teen boy.
"My personal belief is that pain is the best tool for teaching discipline." Levi's voice rang through the room. "What you need now is to be taught a lesson, not given a talking-to. And you happen to be in the perfect kicking position." He concluded, his leg taking action as he began kicking Eren and stomping on the poor boy. I purse my lips, unsure as to what to do. I can't interfere, that wouldn't benefit Eren at all. My only option is to stay back and watch the coming events unfold.
Levi didn't cease to stop at all. His grunts seemingly echoed through the room as bystanders stood and watched in horror. I struggled against the urge to jump the railing and stop Levi; I'm completely unsure of where our strengths compare, but I'm nearly certain I can stop the man.
But I won't. I can't.
"Wait, Levi." Nile voiced, a shocked and scared look on his face. The raven placed his boot on Eren's face fully, turning his head and looking the man dead in the eye.
"What?" He responded removing his foot and standing upright.
"That's dangerous." The soldier replied. "What if he gets mad and turns into a titan?"
Oh my god, how much more stupid could this man be?
One final kick to Eren's face had be inflicted before Levi responded.
"Don't be silly. You guys are going to dissect him, aren't you?" The raven asks, gripping the brunettes hair and pulling him up to his face. "When he was transformed, he apparently managed to kill twenty titans before running out of strength. As an enemy, his intelligence makes him all the more dangerous. Even so, I could handle him just fine. But could you?" Levi's confidence laced each and every word that came from his mouth, my own being set in a straight concerned line.
"Whoever dared to torment him had better think long and hard. Can you actually kill him?" The raven concluded.
"Sir. I have a proposition." Erwin proposes.
"What is it?" Darius asks.
"Eren's titan abilities include too many uncertainties which pose an ever present threat. As such, we will place Eren under Captain Levi's supervision and conduct a recon mission outside the wall." Erwin explains.
"With Eren accompanying you?" The judge asks.
"Yes, Sir. Based on the results of said mission, you can decide if Eren has control over his titan ability and if his existence is of benefit to mankind." Erwin explained the depths of the results.
"Supervising Eren Jaeger, hm?" The elderly man thought out loud. "Can you do this, Levi?"
"Oh, I can most definitely kill him. The real problem is that there's no middle ground." The raven responds.
"Hmph. I've reached my decision." Darius declares. "He will be placed under Captain Levi's supervision in the Scouting Regiment."
***
~Courthouse Waiting Room~
"Was hitting him that hard really necessary, Levi?" I ask sitting on the arm of the couch that Eren sat on, Hange tending to his wounds. The raven remained unresponsive as he stared at me makings roll my eyes.
"Man, talk about harsh." Hange says, dabbing at his wounds with a cotton ball. "I bet it hurts."
"A little..." Eren winced. Hange's fake sympathy quickly washed over as her normal facade came to play.
"So, how exactly does it hurt?" She asks in an almost creepy manner.
"What..?" Eren asks.
"Hange." I vocalize, making her roll her eyes at me.
"Sorry about that but it did get you placed in our custody." Erwin says.
"Yes." Eren utters.
"The pain was worth it. It let us play out trump card when it would be most effective." Erwin continued, the blonde crouched to the brunettes level and held out a hand. "You have my admiration." Eren looked at him in shock. I raise an eyebrow as a warm smile occupied the man's lips. "Eren. I look forward to working with you."
"R-right! Thank you, Sir!" Eren exclaims placing his hand in the commanders. Levi walked across the room, dumping himself on the couch making Eren jump in fright and me bounce slightly from the sudden jolt.
"Tell me, Eren. Do you resent me?" Levi asks. Eren shifted uncomfortably next to Levi who had beaten him relentlessly just an hour prior.
"N-no. I understand it was a necessary performance." Eren replies nervously.
"Good, then." The raven replies turning to face forward with his eyes closed.
"You still didn't need to go that far." Hange pipes up. "You knocked his tooth out! See?" She pulls out a handkerchief and unwraps it revealing the tooth that flung across the courtroom earlier.
"Ew Han, that's unsanitary." I voice with visible disgust on my face.
"Why'd you pick it up? That's disgusting." Levi grimaces.
"It's a precious sample of its own." Hange explains.
"Eren. Be thankful you're not being dissected by people like her." Levi says making me stifle laughter. I missed them so much.
"Don't compare me with them." She responds.
"Yeah, don't do that, Lee. That's insulting to them." I reply making Hange gawk at me in betrayal. I laugh at her response as she begins to swat at me.
"Hey Eren, let me see inside your mouth." Hange asks a little too excited. I raise an eyebrow as I roll my eyes. Eren reluctantly opens his mouth, Hange's face distorting into shock. I furrow my eyebrows waiting patiently for a response.
"The tooth has already grown back..."
***
It took me WAY too long to finish this chapter. I've had covid for the past week so idk why I found it so difficult to find time to actually watch ep 14 to accurately write this chapter 😭
BUT I GOT THERE IN THE END!!! Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
I have SO MANY IDEAS for this story it's ridiculous! I have a note in Notes that's filled with nearly 70 ideas and headcannons (and I'm still adding to it!) I want to implement into this story so look forward to that! I have SO MUCH in store for this story!!
Aishiteru!!!
Jazz<3