Attack on Titan: A Blacksmith's Tale

Chapter 13: The Battle of Trost

Shortly after Pixis's speech, every single soldier who wasn't critically injured got to work. More cannons were mounted on the wall and aimed at the horde of Titans that were increasing in number. Armin came up with a good plan to have many of the soldiers lower themselves close to the Titans so that they would be lured away from Eren as he sealed the wall with the boulder. Not to mention that they would be in just the right spot for the cannons to take quite a lot of them out. On the other side of things, Eren was getting an elite squad of his own that would protect him: Rico Brzenka, Mitabi Jarnack, and Ian Dietrich, the leader. Admittedly, the Shifter was concerned with having the woman that was more than willing to kill him on the spot, but Pixis swore that unless things went horribly wrong, he had nothing to worry about.

"I'm so sorry, Eren," Armin apologized like he had been doing for the past few minutes. "I was just talking out of my head. It wasn't my intention for you to be pulled into all this."

"Stop apologizing," he said. "The fact is you have a gift for strategy and you know it. I believe in you, Armin."

Mikasa finally spoke up. "Eren, I really think I should-."

"I know," Eren interrupted, staring at her.

She couldn't help but flinch. Last time they talked, she was attempting to defy orders to be closer to Eren, and he set her straight via a headbutt while telling her off. It was the last conversation they had before...

"This plan has the chance to go straight to hell," he told her, surprisingly subdued. "You're strong, Mikasa, but we're going right into the heart of the Titans."

"So are you." Mikasa hoped the pain wasn't visible in her eyes.

Eren shook his head. "It's not up to me."

"Ackerman," Ian interjected. "I want you on the squad that will be providing Yeager with backup. We'll need your skill."

Her expression considerably brightened up. It had been too long since Eren had seen her like that.

While Eren wished Mikasa would stay behind for her own sake, he was still feeling a bit down about everything that happened. In all his efforts to try and take care of himself, he ended up in the belly of a Titan. He shuddered, still remembering those high-temperature acids that burned his skin and sought to dissolve him. He decided to let Mikasa have this moment, just this once, because he wasn't going to let it happen again. He would get stronger, and he wasn't going to depend on people like a parasite.

Refueling his canteen and his gas tanks for good measure, Dillon took several deep breaths. He truly felt that he was going on a suicide mission this time, and, despite his convictions, the last thing he wanted to do was die today. He had so many reasons to live now, one of which was blond and short. Still, if it came down to it, he would swallow his fear and give up his life in service to humanity.

"Hey, there you are," a familiar voice said, interrupting his thoughts.

Dillon smiled a little and greeted, "Hey, Marco. How are you holding up?"

"About the same as the rest of us," his freckled friend answered.

The blacksmith let out a sigh. "So... this is it."

"Yes, it is," Marco agreed, humbled by the situation they were in.

"Still thinking of joining the Military Police when this is over?" Dillon asked.

"I don't know," he admitted sheepishly. "I'm a little conflicted now, all things considered."

"I understand." Dillon frowned a bit, the worst-case scenario coming to mind.