Titan Tamer [Attack on Titan]

Chapter Nine - A confrontation

"All high and mighty! Their numbers have dwindled since this morning!" Someone from the crowds yelled. Constant threats and accusations were being thrown at us, their loud voices echoing in my head. We have just returned from the exterior. . . Everyone's faces as hard as stone. I held my aching shoulder, limping slightly while walking beside Levi. He walks also with a slight limp, his leg must hurt. "Corporal Levi! Miss Shadow!" Levi and I both stopped looking to a man who had pushed his way through the crowds to come see us. "Thank you so much for taking care of my daughter! I'm Petra's father. I thought I'd stop and talk to you a little before going to find my daughter! She sent me these letters you see. He said, showing them to us. "She wrote she got the high honor to be of some use to you, corporal and that she was going to give it her all to live up to your expectations. . . Well, you know she was outright boasting, not understanding how worried that news could make a parent. . . Uh, well anyways. . . As a father, I uh. . . I was thinking it was probably too early for me to insist she get married, you know, she's still young and has a whole life ahead of her. . . " "I am going to check on Eren." I said, not bearing to hear any more of this. Levi's hand momentarily went to reach out to grab my arm, but he stopped short, knowing that now wasn't the appropriate time. He simply nodded and let me go.

It was easy to spot the carriage he was in, it seems that he is awake too. I can see his head popping up. As I got closer, I could see the fear in his eyes, they way they were widened. "It's the same smile you used to have when we were little. It is different when you are on this side, isn't it?" I said, looking at the little boy on the ladder behind the crowds. He wears a big grin, one that touches ear to ear, he probably thinks we are the coolest thing ever. I remember Eren once wearing that expression too, his eyes full of wonder and hope. He really admired the Scouting Legion. "Ugh. . ." He moaned, him leaning down and covering his eyes with his arm; trying to hide his tears. I gently took his free hand and squeezed it tightly. I learnt a long time ago that this; the feeling of walking back to base, with the eyes of hatred following us was a given. All we are to those people, are reckless idiots who accomplish nothing. Until we bring back something worth something for humanity, we will always be the people who kill their family members. The people who put them at risk. "It hurts so much." Eren said to me, holding my hand back. "It always will. But that is what makes us human Eren, that's what makes us human. The feeling you feel in here." I told him, pressing my fingers gently to his chest. The cart suddenly stopped and I looked ahead, not seeing why. "There seems to be someone blocking the way." Mikasa told me, her up on a horse, giving her more sight. "They are going to need me. I'll come find you soon Eren. Let's spend a day together." I said, kissing the top of his head gently before leaving his side and weaving through the scouts towards the loud voice I could hear. It didn't sound familiar to me, no one in the Legion has a voice that high. "Stop blaming them like that! You have no idea what they've done to protect us! Even if this seems bad, even if we lost some people, there must have been a good reason! The Scouting Legion help their comrades! They would not uselessly use them as fodder!" I put my hand gently on Levi's shoulder and squeezed in between him and Erwin. He looked down at me for a moment before looking back at the girl who is addressing the crowd. Her face is twisted into a frown, her brown eyes looking at everyone accusingly. She wears a Scouting Legion cape and it would be impossible for a family member of hers to have given it to her. We don't usually give these types of things to people. "Ah, the girl from the Trost district." I sighed, me suddenly remembering her face. "Who?" Erwin asked, looking to me, his serious expression still on. "I'd met her during the fall of Trost. She is older than when I last saw her, but it is no mistaking that it is her." I took a few steps forwards and put a hand on her shoulder. Her head spun towards me and she smiled, remembering me as well. "Captain Azure. It has been a very long time, but I have not forgotten. I have not forgotten what the Scouts have done for me." She said, holding her hand to her chest. I smiled and looked to the crowd, all of them had stopped their yelling, all listening attentively to us. "I understand your concern, the doubt that you have towards us. Our sector of the military is so uncertain, unpredictable and who knows if what we are doing is helping humanity at all. However, at least we are trying to do something." I smirked, "None of you have the right to chastise us, without knowing the fear, the humiliation and the pain that we have seen. Having a family member die at the hands of a titan is painful, hearing from us that your family member has been lost in battle or died is painful, but witnessing their deaths, seeing them perish and scream. That feeling never leaves you. You cannot stop seeing that." I bent down to the girl and brushed her hair back. "Thank you for understanding. Because of people like you, we are able to continue what we are doing." She nodded to me and I stood again, motioning for everyone to continue. "If you want the Survey Corps to be gone, then we shall disappear; however, what if you send us away, and the titans break in?" I said to everyone, keeping my head high and heading towards the direction of our base.