As the darkness fades, you find yourself stuck in a new world - one that you know more about than you're willing to admit.
Will you be able to change the tragic fate Paradis is destined to fall victim to?
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Year 845 | Age 10. Trost District, Wall Rose.
Armin had tried to politely refuse your offer, insisting he didn't want to inconvenience you. But Eren didn't hesitate. If you were offering, it meant you didn't mind, right? His quick acceptance left Armin and Mikasa with no other choice but to go along. And that was when you found out something that made your blood boil—refugees weren't allowed to freely leave the camps. You knew there needed to be some precautions, but really? They were being treated like criminals, like they weren't the victims of this whole mess. The injustice of it all filled you with rage, but you pushed it down. As long as you didn't get caught by the Garrison soldiers, it wouldn't be an issue.
And that's how you found yourself leading your new friends through the quieter streets of Trost, expertly avoiding the busier areas. You had spent a lot of time wandering these streets, learning every shortcut and back alley. You hated walking through crowds, and now that knowledge was proving useful. It would probably serve you well in the future too, considering how much time you would still spend in this district even after graduating.
"Are you sure about this, (Y/N)? If we get caught, you will be in trouble." Armin whispered, like you were part of some secret mission. He was so considerate, even though he and his friends would face much harsher consequences than you if you all got caught, he was still worrying about you. It was in that moment that you made a promise to yourself: You would protect this boy no matter what.
"It's okay, we won't get caught. I know these streets, and I know where the soldiers usually are." Your voice was confident, but you still kept your guard up. You peeked around corners before moving, making sure the path was clear. Mikasa was on alert too, keeping herself on the back of the group to watch for any potential threats. Eren was also unusually quiet, glancing around every other second, trying to reassure himself that everything was fine. He didn't care about the consequences for himself, but he wouldn't let anything happen to Armin and Mikasa, principally when he was the one who forced them to come along.
Thankfully your caution paid off. Soon enough, you were standing in front of your house, relief washing over you as you opened the front door. They also seemed to relax as they followed you inside, the tension draining from their shoulders. You gestured for them to sit at the dining table, and they complied without hesitation. You knew they had been living off stale bread from days, so you decided to make something a bit more filling—a potato soup. It wasn't much, but it was warm, and it was a step up from what they had been getting.
"(Y/N), do you..live alone? Sorry if that's too personal. You don't have to answer!" Armin's soft voice broke through your focus, pulling you back to the present. You turned your head towards him, offering a reassuring smile that seemed to ease his worry.
"I live with my father, but he's not home much. He's a soldier in the Survey Corps, so he's usually out on expeditions outside the walls." You explained as you gathered the ingredients. Even with your back turned, you could sense the way Eren's eyes lit up at the mention of the Survey Corps. You didn't need to see it to know—he idolized them, considered them heroes.
