Partners in Crime Fighting

11. The Decision

EREN: The door closed behind Hanji and Levi as they walked out.

"Okay, so remember earlier when Hanji mentioned the Titans might have a base somewhere?" I asked. "Well, I think we should go looking for it as a birthday present to Hanji. If we find the base and arrest all of the Titans ourselves, they'll be really proud of us."

"Eren, don't be stupid," Mikasa scolded.

"Mikasa, can't you see that this is a great idea?" I demanded.

"Mikasa's right, Eren; Hanji and Levi would want us to stay here and away from the Titans. They care about us." Armin said.

"Armin, come on! They'd be so proud of us!" I pleaded.

"Eren, they would be very ashamed of us if they found out we had disobeyed them and gone after the Titans ourselves." Mikasa said.

"It's like Armin said yesterday: they wouldn't have trained us if they thought we weren't ready to go out and arrest the Titans ourselves!" I pointed out.

"Don't use my words against me," Armin argued, "I only said that because I knew we'd be safe with Hanji and Levi around!"

"But the point is we're ready! We arrested Annie, didn't we?" I protested.

"No, Levi and Hanji rescued us from almost being killed," Mikasa corrected me.

"Mikasaaa," I groaned, "where's your sense of dignity?"

"Dignity?"

"Yeah, don't you want revenge on them from taking your parents lives?"

"Don't you dare bring their souls into this!" She snapped. "They weren't killed by Titans!"

"How do you know those evil people weren't working with the Titans? They very well could've been! If we find the Titans' hideout, we can find the leaders of the organization that killed your parents!" I said.

"That's ridiculous, Eren," Armin said.

"But it's plausible. Fine, if you're not going with me, I'll go find the Titans' hideout myself." I said, standing up.

"Eren!" Mikasa grabbed my wrist. "Don't be stupid. You're staying here."

"Mikasa, you're not my mother! My mother is dead because of those assholes! I have a duty to fulfill for her, and that's to avenge her death. Stop pretending you're in charge of me, because you're not." I argued, wrenching my wrist free.

I stormed downstairs, retrieving Carla from the case. I stuck the pistol in my belt loop and stormed out of the office.

It wasn't long before I heard footsteps behind me. I clumsily whipped my gun out and pointed it at--Armin and Mikasa.

"I thought you weren't coming," I muttered.

"I may not be in charge of you, but that doesn't mean I won't take care of you. You're my family now, Eren, and if I lost you I wouldn't have any family left." Mikasa said.

"Same with me," Armin agreed, "I have no one to take care of me. If I didn't know you, I wouldn't have anywhere to go."

"Guys..." I faltered.

"Now come on; we have Titan ass to kick." Armin said.

I smiled crookedly, hungry with revenge. "Alright, here's the plan."

After wandering around the city for an hour, we spotted a suspicious-looking kid who was very easy to keep an eye on due to his height; he was probably around six feet tall, if not taller.