Awake My Soul - Ereri

Chapter 2 - Boys with Boxing Gloves and Bloody Lips

“Be good, no parties or anything, stay safe. Love you.” Eren’s parents kissed and hugged him goodbye.

“Mikasa thank you for taking us this afternoon.”

“It’s no problem, I’ll see you after school.”

“Are you sure you’re okay to catch the bus after practice today?” Mikasa asked me on the way to school. “I should be back by the time you get home, hopefully, but I don’t want to keep you waiting in case I’m not”

“Yeah that’s fine.” Eren smiles at her.

“Okay I mean only if you’re sure, Mum and Dad can always get a taxi-“

“Mikasa stop fussing.”

“Okay, okay, just call if you get into trouble yeah.” She says parking the car.

“Will do.” He gets out of the car and hears her open and close her door and the beep of the lock as she comes up behind him.

“Have fun at school today” she tells Eren before walking over to her friends. He smiles and spots Armin with Sasha and Marco.

“Hey guys.” Eren says walking up to them.

“Hi Eren.” Armin says just as the bell rings. “Come on, we’ll be late for history”

“Today we’ll be pairing some of our rookies against the more advanced students, see how well you compete against them,” Coach told the group. There were a few shocked whispers as the younger students looked at the size of the older ones. A few gulped. Whereas the older students shook their heads and stared bored, like this had been done before. Maybe it had been for all Eren knew. The coach read the name of the pairs to fight and to be honest he wasn’t really listening until he heard his name.

“Eren Jaeger against Levi Ackerman” Eren winced as whispers grew louder and the students, even the older ones looked at him with a sorry look on their faces. Eren joined the rest of the students when they all got up to prep for their fights. Eren walked over to the mat where he would be competing and stood there looking a little lost. Lazily, Levi strolled over, wrapping a piece of tape around one of his wrists.

“Are you ready?” he asked bored. Eren nodded.

“Well what are you waiting for then?” Levi asked he stood on his side of the mat fists raised. Eren did the same until the coach blew a whistle. The first punch was the hardest. It racked through Eren’s jaw and down his whole spine.

“You know you can block right?” Levi stared down at him. Eren got up quickly and the two of them stood facing each other again. This time when Levi went to punch him, Eren blocked his attack. He looked on Levi’s face for a sense of surprise or congratulation but he found none. Levi looked bored. Levi threw another punch, Eren blocked it again. This time Eren threw a punch and Levi blocked it with ease. Levi wasn’t trying, he thought, at least not yet, he could have Eren flat on the ground again, but he didn’t. Eren realized a moment too late that he had lost concentration and Levi’s fist drove straight into his side. Eren groaned but didn’t fall, still upright. As Levi went to throw another punch Eren blocked him and then punched him straight in the mouth, drawing blood. Everybody in the room seemed to stop and stare at the pair for a moment, until Levi punched him full force. Eren may have gotten up again but Levi just knocked him back down. Again and Again Levi punched and kicked Eren until he was on his knees and there were black patches in his vision.

“Alright Levi you can stop now” Coach said, “Help him to the change rooms there’s blood everywhere.” Eren felt arms come around his chest pulling him up off the ground. His weight leant against the small figure as they led him in the way of the change rooms. He was sat down; a cold cloth was run over his face and a drink bottle put into his hand. As he began to regain his balance and his sight he opened his eyes slowly. He was first greeted with a brown haired girl with glasses.