Attack on Titan: A Blacksmith's Tale

Chapter 78: Preparations

(Two weeks after coronation)

The last place Eren wanted to be was sitting in a chair outside Commander Erwin's office. He'd rather be training with Annie, eating chow with his friends, or even liberating Shiganshina singlehanded. Instead, he was here to explain his actions after the Scouts rescued him from Historia's insane father. Defying Erwin's orders seemed like a good idea at the time and he was able to destroy that massive Titan single handedly. Cursing Erwin out was just the icing on the cake after all the crap he suffered. Now, he was about to face the consequences of his actions. The words from Levi came to him, about making choices with no regrets. The only thing he could do right now was hold his head high and stand his ground. After all, he needed answers from him and he would not leave until he got them.

The door finally opened, but to Eren's surprise, Captain Levi stepped out and closed the door behind him. "Follow me, Eren."

"But I have a meeting with Commander Erwin," Eren protested, confused.

"It's been canceled." Levi didn't even spare him a glance when he walked by. "Follow me or go back to your quarters. Your choice."

The Shifter clenched his fist in frustration. Even if he avoided getting chewed out for now, he was also denied the chance to confront Erwin. He felt so insulted that he nearly stormed off to his quarters to blow off the steam. At the same time, Levi seemed to be up to something and he wanted Eren involved in it. So, with nothing better to do, he tightened the scarf around his neck and trailed after the captain.

Once Levi had left Scout Headquarters, he went behind the castle towards an empty field. There were a couple of patrols that saluted him as he passed by, though he waved them off. His focus was on the Shifter behind. Once they were far enough, the captain faced his charge. "Put away the scarf, Eren."

Annoyed, he did what he was told, placing it carefully on a nearby stump. "What are we doing here, Captain?"

"We're going to have a conversation," Levi answered, taking a fighter's stance.

The Shifter narrowed his eyes. "What is this? An excuse to beat the shit out of me again?"

"Is that what you think? I'm always on the lookout for opportunities to knock your teeth out?" He shook his head. "I'm disappointed, Eren. I thought you knew better than that."

He scoffed. "Maybe I never knew what you really are, Captain." On the last word, Eren threw a punch, which Levi easily dodged.

"You're angry," he commented. "Then again, you're always angry."

That struck a nerve. "Don't patronize me!" Another punch was followed by another dodge. It only served to piss him off further.

"You disobeyed orders and you publicly cussed out the commander," Levi stated, kicking Eren in the ribs. "You've got balls, but that wasn't like you. Tell me what happened in those caverns."

Gritting his teeth in pain, Eren hissed, "He told me the truth. Rod Fucking Reiss told me the truth while you bastards kept it hidden from me this whole time."

Levi had a really good idea as to what he was told. "And what truth did he tell you? For all you know, the fatass could have been lying."

Eren let out a humorless laugh. It was a sound so wrong coming from him that it actually made Levi slightly uncomfortable. "Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't you, Levi? After all, you're the Scout Regiment. You can do no wrong. All hail Humanity's Strongest Soldier."

"Get to the damn—." Levi was cut off by a kick that he blocked with his arm.

Eren advanced on the captain, throwing punches and kicks at every opportunity. He took slight satisfaction in seeing him back up, but it wasn't enough. "I know that my father turned me into a Titan. I know that I ate him and became a Shifter like he was. I know that I have less than eight years to live. I'm a dead man walking!"