Torture For The Feeble Hearted

Sweet To The Touch

~Twenty Years Later~

"Come on, Jaeger! Come at me!" Jean Kirsten threatened Eren during combat training. Eren had beaten his last five partner to the dirt in a matter of minutes, but that didn't stop Jean from testing his strength.

"You're gonna get yourself hurt, dumbass," Nishiki Nishio laughed at him as Jean rolled up his sleeves and pulled his fists over his face. Eren chuckled at him as he put his water down and walked up Jean.

"If you so please," Eren chuckled as he walked up to Kirsten. The fight was started by Jean's angered charge at Eren with a punch that threw him off balance causing him to run in an unstable condition. It was too easy for Eren to dodge as he held his hands behind his back.

"Come on, Jaeger," Jean tempered. "Fight like a man."

"If what you're doing is called fighting like a man, I don't think I want to," Eren smirked. Jean growled at him and charged at Eren again, clumsier than before with his fist extended outward. Eren rolled his eyes as he grabbed Jean's arm and twisted Jean's complete body around so he was on his back. Chuckles and quiet laughs were heard from the other soldiers around them as Eren looked down at Jean.

"You done now?" He asked in a bored tone. Jean grumbled and furrowed his eyebrows at the older soldier as Eren chuckled at him. Eren clicked his tongue at the soldier and began to walk away from him in his victory, but Jean wasn't done with him yet. In a flash, Jean turned around and grabbed Eren's leg and pulled it out from behind him, causing Eren to fall face first into the dirt. Jean climbed over Eren as he flipped around on his back and held his throat against his elbow and forearm. The soldier chuckled with desire and smirked as he punched Eren in the lip, making it bleed.

"I win," Jean smiled. Eren chuckled at him and smirked.

"You sure about that, Kirsten?" Eren chuckled. Before Jean could reply, Eren bit his arm and kicked him in the crotch making him scream out in pain, allowing Eren to flip him on his back and hold Jean's neck in between his thighs, clenching it tightly until Jean gave in and slapped the floor. Eren smirked as he watched Jean cough out on the ground.

"That was dirty play, Eren," Jean coughed.

"Just because its dirty play, doesn't mean that it won't save your life. Combat training is meant to get that message through your head. Any course of action that will save yourself is one you would need to take if your life is threatened," Eren explained as he wiped some blood off his mouth. "Other than that, you're getting pretty good. Keep it up and you might even be able to beat me. In a miracle sense, of course."

"Tch. Thanks," Jean mumbled in disappointment as he lifted himself from the ground.

"Lieutenant Eren Jaeger," a recruit yelled out to get his attention. Eren turned to look at them and walked up. "Captain Levi requests you in his office."

Eren nodded in reply and jogged towards headquarters. While walking up the steps to Levi's office, he passed Kaneki and smiled at him. Kaneki returned the favor and walked towards the yard to train. To Eren, he seemed a bit out of character. He never went down to the mess-hall to "eat" today, neither did he join in on the group cardio train on the morning. He was worried. So very worried.

"Eren! There you are," Levi scowled at Eren as they bumped into each other in the halls. "Jesus, what was taking you so long?"

"Sorry, I just... never mind. What did you call me for?" Eren asked as he followed Levi to his office.

"There are some... problems that we need to discuss," Levi answered as he sighed slightly.

"What kind of problems?" Eren furrowed his eyebrows in confusion as they got closer to Levi's office.