Love in a Time of War

Chapter Twenty-One

Emiko smiles as she brushes her horse outside the stables "Such a good boy." she tells him, the horse nuzzling into her side. Eren walks out of the stables, looking behind Emiko "Huh? Emiko, everyone! Oluo, may I go speak with my friends for a bit?" he asks. "Jeez, just go already." Oluo tells him. Emiko smiles and runs over with Eren "Hey, Mikasa, Armin!" Eren exclaims. "Huh? Ah!" Armin smiles. "Eren!" Mikasa exclaims. "It feels like it's been forever!" Eren tells them. "Eren, did they do anything terrible to you? Like inspecting every bit of your body or causing you mental anguish?" Mikasa asks him. "No, nothing like that." Eren responds. "Tsk... That shorty went way too far. I'll pay him back in kind someday." Mikasa tells him. Emiko rolls her eyes "Like to see you try." she smirks. "You're not talking about Lance Corporal Levi, are you?" Eren asks Mikasa. "Hey, Eren, Emiko." Connie smiles, heading over with Sasha, Reiner, Bertholdt, Krista and Ymir. "It's been a while!" Sasha smiles. "Oh wow, you're all here? But... are you guys here because... Don't tell me you enlisted." Eren says. "Why else would we be here?" Connie responds. "Then the only ones who picked the Military Police are Jean, Annie, and Marco? Ah... You're kidding me... You, too?!" Eren asks as Jean arrives with some other soldiers. "Marco's dead." Jean tells him, Emiko going over and subtly holding his hand in comfort.

"Huh? What... did you just say? Did you say Marco's dead?" Eren asks. "It seems like not everyone dies a dramatic death. We don't even know how he went down. He died alone without anyone seeing or knowing." Jean explains. "Marco..." Eren trails off. "Hey, recruits, gather up! Your uniforms are here!" Ness calls over. Emiko pulls Jean along to Ness to get his uniform "Hey Ness." she greets. "Emiko." Ness nods. Jean takes his uniform and pulls it on "Hm, suits you." Emiko tells him with a smile. "So, what have you been up to?" Jean asks. "Training, helping Hange and Eren with trying to work out how Eren's powers work, spending time with Levi." Emiko responds. "So you've been busy then." Jean tells her. "Yeah, definitely." Emiko nods, leading him over to the stables. Emiko's horse trots over and nuzzles into her "Hey Bud." she smiles, stroking him. "This your horse?" Jean asks. "Yeah, Commander Erwin gave him to me as a graduation present." Emiko nods. Emiko's horse nudges Jean, making him pat him "Looks like he likes you." Emiko tells him. Jean smiles "Well, he is a gorgeous horse." he responds.

That evening, Emiko sits next to Jean as everyone gathers in the storage building "You guys are really..." Eren trails off. "Yes. We'll be participating in the next expedition as well." Mikassa confirms. "Hey, Eren. I heard that as a Titan, you tried to kill Mikasa. Mind explaining yourself?" Jean asks. "Ah..." Eren trails off. "That's wrong. Eren was trying to kill a fly-" Mikasa starts. "I didn't ask you. Say, Mikasa. That wound on your cheek seems pretty deep. When did you get it?" Jean asks her. "I think it's true. In my Titan form, I tried to kill Mikasa." Eren admits. "So you don't really remember it, huh? In other words, you weren't aware you had that power until now, and you lack the means to control it." Jean tells him. "Yeah, that's right." Eren responds. "Ngh... Haa... Hear that, guys? That's the situation we're in. Our lives and mankind are in his hands. We'll probably die without Eren ever knowing, just like Marco did." Jean tells everyone. "Jean, why are you driving Eren into a corner like this?" Mikasa asks. "You know, Mikasa... Not everyone can blindly die for Eren like you without anything in return. We have the right to know... what exactly we're risking our lives for. Otherwise, we'll waver at the moment of truth. We expect something out of Eren. Let us know what to expect and whether it's worth our lives." Jean responds.

Emiko sighs slightly as Jean walks up to Eren and takes him by the shoulders "So, Eren! We're seriously counting on you, okay?" he tells him. "Ah... Yeah..." Eren responds. "Okay, enough with all the tension. Come on, I'll show you all around." Emiko tells everyone. "Hey, Emiko? Is it true that your brother in Captain Levi?" Krista asks. "Yeah." Emiko nods. "You should see them together, it's like they're the same person sometimes." Eren tells them. "We're not that bad." Emiko retorts. "You have silent conversations all the time." Eren points out. "Because we know how each other thinks." Emiko tells him. "And the way you sit the same way?" Eren asks. Emiko sends him a glare "I'm shutting up." Eren tells her. "Come on." Emiko tells everyone leading them out the storage building. "Emiko! Don't forget that Captain Levi wants you to meet him later." Petra calls over. "I know, Eren and I are just showing everyone around first." Emiko nods. "Who was that?" Reiner asks. "Petra, she's also a member of Captain Levi's squad." Eren responds. Emiko leads them to the main building and into the Mess Hall, heading to the kitchen with Jean following her "You want some tea?" she asks him. "Sure." Jean nods. Emiko nods and makes them both a cup of tea "I don't know how you like it but this is how Levi and I have it." she tells him. Jean nods and takes a sip "It's good." he tells her as they sit.

The two of them sit there catching up as they drink their tea "We better be heading to bed soon. We've got the expedition in the morning." Emiko tells him. Jean nods "Good idea." he agrees, standing up. Emiko copies and grabs their cups, washing them up "Promise me something about tomorrow?" she tells Jean. "What?" Jean asks her. "Be careful." she smiles. "I will you if you will." Jean nods. Emiko nods "Deal." she tells him, making him smile. "Let me walk you to your room?" Jean asks her. "Okay, this way." she agrees, leading him upstairs. "You're on the same floor as the higher ups?" Jean realises. "Yeah, my room is next to Levi's. He prefers to have me nearby incase something happens." Emiko explains. "He's a good brother." Jean tells her. "The best." Emiko nods with a smile. "I'll see you in the morning." Jean smiles as they reach her room. "That you will. Night Jean." Emiko tells him, giving him a hug. ""Night Emiko." he responds, hugging her back.