It's moments like these, nestled close to eren, that I cherish deeply. My arms wrap around him as we share a single horse, and I press my cheek against his back, feeling the steady beat of his heart. eren's right hand, not occupied with the reins, rests over mine, adding another layer to our small sanctuary. Here, in the cadence of our horse's slow movement, I find a fleeting peace, almost convinced we are alone in this vast, quiet forest.
However, we are not alone-levi and the rest of the squad are with us. together, we journey toward the old scout regiment headquarters, now designated as our new home.
"Don't be deceived, greenhorn," a voice from my left chided. I lifted my cheek from Eren's back to find Ouro speaking, his tone laden with condescension. Eren, taken aback, responded sharply, "Excuse me?"
Ouro leaned in close to Eren's face, his voice sharp, "Don't be expecting the royal treatment, whether you're Titan or human, don't imagine for a second-"
I quickly interjected, shoving my hand between them. "Back off! Your breath stinks, your spewing germs all over him," I exclaimed in disgust. Ouro's eyes narrowed, and he began, "You little-" But just as he was about to unleash his insult, his horse stumbled, stepping on something, jolting him forward. He bit his tongue hard, and a little blood splattered, abruptly silencing him.
As we arrived at the old headquarters, the building stood grim and forbidding, its facade layered with dirt and neglect. Eren, sensing my hesitation, quickly dismounted and reached out to help me down. His firm grip around my waist steadied me as I slid off the horse.
Stepping closer, the full extent of the disrepair became painfully clear. The walls were caked in grime, and the windows were smeared with the remnants of years of neglect. I grimaced. "eren, it's so dirty," I complained, my discomfort palpable.
Understanding flickered in eren's eyes. "I know it's tough, but we'll clean it up together," he reassured me, his voice soothing. "It won't look like this for long."
Despite his optimism, my resolve to leave was firm. "I can't stay here," I muttered, turning to walk away. But before I could get far, levi appeared, he grabbed my cloak firmly, halting my escape.
"You're not going anywhere," levi declared, then turned his gaze towards the dilapidated building, his expression twisting into one of disgust.
"Look at this mess," he said with a scowl, addressing everyone now. "This place is a disgrace. Everyone, grab a broom-we're cleaning this from top to bottom. No excuses."
