Souls Of Sorrow || Eren Jaeger X Reader

Chapter 22 - You

I apologize for the literal weeks it takes for me to get out a new chapter, I sincerely appreciate your patience to those who are still reading.

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It's been a couple days since the situation regarding Reiner and Berthold. Things have been kind of a mess lately, especially for the Scout regiment. Or my father's squadron at least.

The squad just had a meeting where my father announced the members of his elite group, all from the 104th cadet corp. And I'm his second. It fills me with a sense of pride, that he can depend on me when needed.

I haven't been sleeping well over the past few days, my mind always busy and unable to rest, plagued with thoughts and ideas. I wonder if this is how Hange feels, always conducting experiments and theories, restless and not wanting to stop. Though I suppose my thoughts are different, or...more preoccupied, I guess.

Never in my life would I have thought I would be going to Miche of all people for answers, yet here I am, staring down at him from the foot of the hospital bed he lays in. He doesn't look horrible considering his condition, but his legs are still heavily bandaged and he can't walk.

"Here to finish the job?" he asks hoarsely, staring back at me.

"Would kind of defeat the purpose of saving you, don't you think?" I raise a brow slightly, my tone remaining neutral.

He coughs a bit as he sits up better. "Yeah well, you and I don't exactly have the best rapport," he grunts.

Well, he's not wrong there. I glance around the room, since Miche's a commanding officer he gets his own space and doesn't have to be lumped in with all the other soldiers that get injured on excursions. The room is fairly empty, save for a couple visiting chairs and a bookshelf nearly stocked full to keep him occupied.

I'm also aware of the amount of check-ups he gets per day. Given his skill set and status, Miche's recovery is a top priority.

I Hange's sit in the chair positioned to face his bedside, my arms staying crossed and my legs splaying in a 'manspread.' My eyes flicker over his face, studying him. "I have some questions, and you're going to answer them."

He scoffs, tilting his head back against the pillows that support him. "And why would I do that?"

I keep my calm demeanor, despite my urge to punch him in the nose. "Because you owe me a favor," I state simply, leaning back in my seat.

His lips purse in momentary contemplation. He lets out a breath of mild exasperation, knowing I'm right. "Yeah, fine."

I look him over, thinking for a moment on what to start with. I can't imagine he'll be especially helpful, he won't know everything I want to know. Still, he's my best chance. "Back in the underground, when my family was captured, Erwin said he should ask again for my father to join his ranks. What was he talking about?"

Miche sighs heavily in exasperation. "I don't fucking know, that was over nine years ago," he mutters, eyebrows knitting together as he tries to recall what I'm talking about. He's a close friend of Erwin's and has been a member of the Scout regiment for well over a decade, he has to know what Erwin was thinking or doing around that time.

"Think." I say firmly as I drum my fingers on my bicep.

He shoots me a glare but offers no retort.

After a moment of silence his lips part and he takes a sharp breath in. "When...I was newer to the Scout regiment, I was on patrol with two other soldiers, it was an easy job. Halfway through the shift we got ambushed by three people, despite our training they managed to get our gear after this short, dark-haired asshole knocked us out."