The Turquoise Cure (Eren X Reader)

Chapter 11: The Fall of Trost (pt. 1)

    Without having to think, you instinctively shot your maneuvering gear's grappling hooks into the secure part of Wall Rose. Your body lurched as you were jerked upward, and you leaned back to enable your feet to rest on the wall facing vertically. Looking around, you saw that most of the others had managed to launch their hooks into the wall in time, yet you watched, helplessly, as Sasha dove one of her hooks into the limp, lifeless body of a tall, dark-haired cadet that you hardly knew, but recognized from the dining hall. Somewhere, someone was screaming. Could there already be that many fatalities in this battle?

    Now, someone new was yelling. Even, who had landed only a few feet away from you, shouted, "DON'T LET THE COLOSSUS TITAN GET AWAY!" Then, with a spurt of gas, he shot upward and sprang into the air. You immediately followed, but you seemed alone in this pursuit. You wanted to yell and inspire more to come with you, but the chaos ensuing all around you was too great, and you couldn't find the guts to ask for help. As you landed atop the wall, Eren was swinging around the titan's vast nape, and just as he was going in for the cut, you made direct eye contact with the titan. Standing on the wall, it was almost as if it read your mind- it knew that it was in danger, and, like an animal, it knew that it needed to leave. No sooner had you thought this than the titan had burst into a cloud of steam, concealing Eren as though he had been sucked into a thick mist.

    "EREN!" you shouted, searching the coated air for a trace of him. Suddenly, his hooks grappled onto the wall only feet away from you, and he pulled himself up to land on the wall. "Eren," you started. "It's gone." he said, crestfallen. "I don't know what happened; it just... it just went up into steam and disappeared." You clutched at his hand and searched his eyes. "Do you have any fucking idea how reckless and stupid that was? You had no backup! I'm nothing, and I could do nothing to help you! Why would you risk your life for this? Why didn't you wait on me to come with you?" Your anger burst out of you unexpectedly- you hadn't even realized how furious you were at him. I'm overreacting. "(Y/N,)" Eren started, pulling your shoulders so that you faced him. He pulled your chin up so that you forced to stare into his eyes- those stupid teal eyes that wouldn't let you look away. "You know that I can't just stand by and let things happen; I've told you about how my mom died, and I can't relive that. If you had gotten hurt, I don't know what I would've done with.." he was interrupted, however, as Sasha leapt up the wall. "Oh thank God!" she muttered to herself. "Guys!" she shouted, peeking her head over to the other side of the wall. "They're okay!" Now coming back onto the wall, she addressed you and Eren. "We're supposed to meet at the center of town, in the inventory room. We're getting split into groups to do city reconnaissance and fight the titans that have breached the wall." In the wake of the colossus titan returning, you had hardly noticed the vast hole that seared the bottom of the wall, or the hoards of titans swarming in through it. "Well," Eren said, squeezing your hand tightly, "then we'd better go."

    The commons were utter chaos to say the absolute minimum. Some cadets were crying, others frantically writing wills and last letters to their families, more in utter disbelief and trying to leave, and others still, like you, accepting your fate. You had known what would be expected of you once you joined the survey corps: this was a practice. You had already filled your canisters and checked them several times, but the sight of Armin fidgeting and trembling as he failed to correctly seal his canister and Eren and Mikasa sitting next to him rubbing his shoulders compelled you to return. Words would do no good; what he needed was a hug. You wrapped his skinny, bony body into your arms and held him for a few moments. His poor heart was thumping so hard that you could feel it against your own, slightly slower beating chest. "Thanks," he muttered as he began to stand up. "I'll be alright. Thanks, guys." You were about to ask Even and Mikasa how they were feeling when a loud and shrill voice interrupted. "(Y/N L/N,) YOU ARE TO REPORT TO THE ADVANCE GUARD. COME AND SEE ME FOR MORE INFORMATION!" You reluctantly pulled yourself away from the trio to meet a tall, burly man with a fading mustache. "Due to your rank, you are to assist in the advance guard and help them to take down the titans that have breached the wall. You may not persist, and I should hope that you don't let me down. Shadis would be very disappointed in the both of us. Another of your trainees, Ms. Ackerman, will be asked to assist a different squad, so as not to distract you new trainees." What does one say in response to this other that... "Yes, sir!"