A Fight For Humanity

Chapter One: Before The Fall

"People are crazy for believing that these walls will protect us forever. Even though the walls have been intact for the past 100 years, there's nothing that can guarantee they won't be broken down today."
-Armin Arlert

"Do you think he's okay?" I asked Mikasa. She looked up at me from where she sat.

"I dunno. If he doesn't wake up soon, one of us should go back and get someone." She replied, not looking too worried.

"Try waking him up again. Carla will be getting worried." I said, jumping out of the tree with a handful of sticks.

"Eren." Mikasa said, leaning over him. He woke up with a gasp. She sat back.

"Mikasa.... Hey...." He said, sounding dazed.

"We should get back." Mikasa stated.

"Where are we exactly?" He asked in confusion.

"Try asking me again when you're awake." Mikasa retorted, standing up.

"I'm up." He said quietly, sitting up. "I just, I dunno. It's like the dream I was having went on forever. It's gone now, I can't remember what it was about." He rubbed his eyes.

Mikasa and I grabbed our sticks, and looked back to wait for Eren.

"Eren, have you been crying?" Mikasa asked in concern. Eren brought a hand to his face, as if uncertain.

"It doesn't matter, let's just go." I quickly interrupted, not wanting them to have an argument. After living with Eren for a year, I had grown to know his personality. He was easily angered. I knew he'd never hurt me or Mikasa, but it doesn't mean he'd start an argument.

Eren picked up his sticks, and we walked back down the path and made our way back home.

"Do me a favour, don't let anyone know I was crying." Eren asked us.

"Yeah yeah." Mikasa said. I don't think she had been planning on telling anyone anyway. She was pretty loyal to Eren.

"Still though, you don't even remember why? You might wanna have your dad look into that." I told him. He turned to me angrily.

"Yeah right. Because tearing up is usually a medical thing." He said sarcastically.

"Somebody messing with you?" Someone said. Eren and I looked up, to find Hannes.

"Oh, hey Mr Hannes." Eren said, not bothering to continue arguing with me.

"Or did you just get on these girl's bad sides?" Hannes pried, leaning down into Eren.

"No! What are you even talking about!" Eren protested, before leaning away and covering his mouth in disgust. "Ugh, you smell like a tavern!" (A tavern is a place where alcohol is sold, if you didn't know)

Three Garrison members sitting behind playing cards started laughing at Eren's comment.

"If only tears were cups of ale!" One of them said, raising his bottle.

"Of course." Eren let out a disappointed sigh at the drunk men.

"You kids care for a swig?" He asked us. I stared at the drinks in the other men's hands. I wasn't really interested in trying it. My father used to drink. It made him constantly angry. But then when he didn't have it, he got even angrier.