Eren's POV
11 Years Before
Today is shopping day. That means it's market day. I don't really like shopping, except when I get my toy at the end. Mom usually gets me a balloon, or, it I'm really good, a bouncy ball.
I finally see the street that's closed off every Saturday for the stands of stuff. It's not even that crowded today.
"Remember Eren, don't leave my side." Mom lets go of my hand to grab a basket. "I mean it."
I bounce in anticipation, already wishing we were done so I could get a balloon. "Okay Mom. Are we almost done?"
Mom rolls her eyes but shakes her head no. Shoot. We walk to the first stand, where there's a lot of apples. I love apples, and apple pie, and apple juice, and candy apples, and oranges. For about a minute, I just watch Mom scan the apples.
"Whatcha goin to make, Mom?" I tug on the bottom of her shirt. It's her favorite one, because it's yellow.
Grabbing a bag, she puts an apple in it. "I'm thinking about making a pie."
I jump up and down, punching the air. "Yes!" Stopping, I turn and look at her with wide eyes. "Can I have an apple? Please and thank you?"
"I don't know... Do you think you could eat a whole one?" Mom is smiling, so that means she's teasing, I think. "Could you even lift one up? They're pretty heavy."
I bend my arms up and squeeze my muscles to make them big. "I can! See? See? See my big muscles bump?"
Mom laughs. "Okay. Get an apple. Those are some pretty big muscles."
All the apples are different. I show one to her, but she shows me a brown spot on it. Ew. I put it back.
My eyes land on a big, shiny red one. I can't reach it, so I point it out. Mom says it's perfect.
I bounce impatiently as Mom pays for all of them, and finally she hand me mine. Taking a giant bite, I close my eyes and hum. I open them back up when I hear Mom laughing.
"Is it that good?"
I nod, then shove it at her. "It's awesome! Try it!" She takes a small bite.
"Wow! That's the sweetest apple ever! You're picking the apples out next time." Mom walks us over to the next booth, which is vegetables. Yuck. But I still smile wide at my new job.
Continuing to munch on my apple, I look around. A small flash of color catches my eye. A butterfly! It floats past me, and without thinking, I chase it.
When I finally look around, I realize I'm away from the street. Maybe if I get back real fast, Mom won't notice I'm gone. But I'm too late. I see Mom come around the corner with a mad face. She's breathing hard like she was running.
"Eren Yeager! Get over here right now, dammit! You're in big trouble, mister!"
My lower lip trembles, and I lower my head and start to shuffle towards her. Suddenly, my body is jerked into an alley, making me drop my perfect apple. I hear my mom yell, and I want to too, but I'm frozen. I can't touch the ground, and a man is in my face. His voice is raspy.
"Give me your damn money, kid." I feel something press against my head. I start shaking because I don't have any money.
I hear a crack and the man drops me to the ground. Mom is behind him holding a brick. My head hurts, and something is running down my face. When I touch it, my fingers turn red with blood. That's when the tears start to pour down my face. I'm in so much trouble.
"You son of a-" The man hisses a breath when he touches the back of his head. He raises a gun, and I hear three pops, then Mom screaming. Almost immediately, she falls and the cop car that always sit at the other corner turns it's sirens on. Mumbling a curse, the man runs. I scramble to Mom. She has blood on her chest, her shirt. She won't like her shirt getting dirty.
"Mom! Mommy!" I shake her and her head rolls to the side. "It's not nap time Mom, wake up! Please! Mommy!" I feel arms wrap around me, and I scream and kick. It's the policeman, but I don't care.
Everything after that goes by in a blur. Flashing lights. Mom being put in a giant trash bag. Someone wrapping my head with gauze. A shot in my arm when I punch a nurse. The world going dark. Waking up in the hospital. Me ignoring questions. His face. Going to my new home. Eating. Sleeping. His face. His face. I'll never forget his face. Going to a different home.
The first words I to anyone was the only words I said for a while. "I'm Eren. I'm six."
4 Years Later
I've spent the whole day in this room. I refuse to call it my room, because I'll be gone in about a week. I never stay long.
Today marks four years since Mom got killed.
It's finally dark, so I slip on my jacket and shoes. Then my knifes. One on my hip, the other on my thigh out of sight. I sit on the window and think of him before I go out.
Last year, I decided that I had to find the man that killed Mom. The police dropped the search, and I hated them for it. So, I went out it search for him myself. Sometimes I'd get mugged, or at least they would try to. If their was one thing that foster homes taught me, it was how to fight. The system also made me lose any sympathy I had. But no matter what, I would be the last person that person would ever mug. Because I would kill them. Just for fun, I would say what I always say when I win a fight. "Pick on someone your own size."
I guess I didn't kill one of the guys, because suddenly everyone had a name and a story to watch out for. The name fit me, actually. And surprisingly, mugging in the city went down a little. Which made it difficult for me.
I jump off the window sill, and start walking, pulling my hood up. So, I'm Eren Yeager. I'm ten. But everyone who doesn't know me calls me The Innocent.
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AN:
Welp! Here's a little tease! I'll be waiting for feedback. Anyway, if this story sounds good, I'll continue. If I do, I'll switch back and forth between The Innocent and The Issue. So feedback please!
