In Our Darkest Hour

[bunbeez]

This Role Play is private between RaraHaruko. It is an SnK Role Play.


(My Character)


|Name| Charlie Barron


|Age| 15


|Appearance| Shoulder length curly dark auburn hair, amber eyes, 169 cm, pale skinned. She wears an off white button down shirt underneath her tan jacket. (Her picture is soon to come)


|Personality| She's a complete tsundere. She is stubborn and she won't acknowledge advice quite so easily. She will not admit to being afraid, though she fails to hide it. She is not very good when it comes to sparing, in terms of thinking before she acts. When she panics she begins sweating and twirling her hands.


|Bio| Charlie was one of the people who had lived within wall Rose at the time of the first Titan attack. She joined trainee squad to prove a point to her family, that she was going to be a part of humanity's victory... if it is to come.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

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Warmth engulfed Eren, wrapping him in soft darkness. He felt safe here, like the quiet could keep him company, keep him sane. His hands were bound to his side, as if he were bundled like a newborn. His eyes fluttered open, eyelashes licking his cheeks as the swirling black shattered, leaving him to stare into the young face of a meek blond haired boy, excitement lacing his blue hues. "Eren!" he sang, Armin's childhood laughter bringing him into a gentle memory. "Eren! The gates are open!"


The young taller male blinked once, confusion deep in his eyes. "Armin-- that's impossib--"


"Come see!" A ten-year-old Arlet hastily replied, forgetting Eren's blank stare. He reached forward, grasping onto the other's hand. The comfortable heat was quickly lifted, pulling him from a soft down of blankets that lay in a heap below a weeping willow tree. He'd been here before. He tried to rip his had from his subordinate's but his feet wouldn't allow him in any other direction. "We can finally see the outside world! I can find my parents, and we can find the sea !" the bright smile that played on his lips caused the soldier to stop his resistance. He towered over his young friend, their age difference being night and day. His stomach lurched as they rounded the corner, gaze falling upon a crowd of people pushing and shoving each other to get through.


"This is wrong, Armin. This is all wrong." he whispered, but no words came through. With every step he took towards the wall leading out of the Shiganshina district the earth quaked under his feet. "Armin, get away from, here!" he paused, glancing around them. "Where's Mikasa!?" panic rose in his throat as a small figure struggled to clear from the clutter of bodies narrowing in. A hand shot out from between their legs, and in seconds a young Ackerman was racing towards them, cheeks burning. The sight of the girl unscathed made a sigh of relief escape the titan-shifter's teeth. He too a step forward...


Crack!


His heart screamed into his eardrums, the rush of blood filling his head.


BOOM!


Tiny fingers slipped from his hold, causing a yell to explode from the soldier's mouth. Rocks flew into his face, choking him. A rush of wind swept over him, the world tilting as he felt weightless. The sensation of flight was quickly dismissed, his body colliding with the side of a thick stone building. Dust cleared, debris from the gaping wall scattered among the masses. Corpses littered the streets, arms missing torsos, bodyless limbs everywhere. A red scarf fluttered to the ground in front of his feet, a dark stain freshly splattered across it. That's when his gaze met the horror-struck sapphire eyes, golden hair disheveled. Tears blurred his vision, cradling the severed head of Armin, Mikasa's body nowhere to be seen.





Emerald hues shot open, an audible screaming waking him from his deep sleep. Sweat trickled from his brow, his chest rising and falling at a high pace. The damp cloth that had been placed over his head a few moments prior fell against his legs, a wet slap pulling him into reality. Fear gripped his tongue as he searched around the room frantically, sunlight glistening upon three worried faces. It took Yeager more then a couple of moments to realize the cries had come from his own vocal cords, his throat feeling raw. It had been at least 48 hours since the fall of the Female titan, the pounding in his head making the room spin. He fell against his elbow, the rate at which he'd sat up in bed causing a sickening pull on his insides. Mikasa placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to forcefully make him lay back down. It had only been a dream. A very vivid nightmare.


"Calm down Eren." she sighed, standing up and walking towards a new cadet he'd never laid eyes on. Her hair was shoulder length, a dark maroon that glistened in the morning sun. Her small frame compared to the meaty soldier she was standing next to was what caught his eye.


"Charlie watch over him, I have to notify Hange. This is the first he's been awake in two days."she said whipping the tattered old scarf around her neck, and burying her lips in the fabric. "Make sure he eats something." She ordered before sauntering out of the room, the bulky soldier following after her.


Eren gazed at the ceiling, his tired eyes drooping. A rumble in his stomach signified his lack of nutrition, but the mirrored dream that replayed in his head detoured him from any sort of edible substance. Swallowing hard, he sat up again, this time propping his back against the headboard. He glanced sideways at the new face, taking in her soft features and amber eyes. Who was she? Had he really been so dug into the chaos of everything, he'd completely forgotten the faces of the new recruits? Silence settled over him, his slow breathing the only audible sound in the room. Even the dust motes in the air held the quiet.

 

[bunbeez]

So this was the legendary human-titan she'd been hearing about. So this was why their trip to the interior of wall Sina had been postponed- it was this boy, fighting against the female titan. They had been cut two days short of their arrival, and the new cadets were newly arrived. The ammount of rubble and dead bodies on the streets were the first thing that they saw when they entered the interior. Charlie gave out a sigh as her straight face looked at the boy in the bed. Her amber eyes flickered with curiosity. How was he able to shift into a titan? That was a real mystery. During her days as a trainee, she had heard about this boy. Charlie sat in a chair that was against the wall on the opposite side of the room. She didn't know what to say. For a moment, she began imagining what those eyes have witnessed, what those eyes have seen outside the walls. How many of his friends perished because of the titans? She couldn't bring herself to think about it.


"Well I guess it's time for you to eat something." She said, standing up. She was obviously annoyed. Other cadets got to settle in and clean up the aftermath, and all she got to do was babysit a boy who was clearly capable of watching over himself for an hour or two. But, considering what he had just went through, he probably needed to take a break for a change. Charlie picked up the bread loaf and handed it to him. She let out a sigh and sat back down in the chair. She looked out the window at other soldiers who were standing around discussing things. She looked at the green military police badges on their jackets, and the wings of freedom on some other soldiers. It was only a matter of time before she got hers. The stationary guard was just calling to her. Yet again, being a part of the Survey Corps would be thrilling. She didn't want to think about it right now, there was too much going on.


She looked back at Eren, crossing her legs and leaning back in the chair, folding her arms loosely across her stomach. She hadn't been up close to actual titans before, only dummies that they practiced on. She had barely made it to the top ten, too. Charlie shook her head slightly, trying to get all the important things off her mind. She didn't want to strain herself just yet. She looked back at Eren and watched him for a while.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Her blank expression reminded him of his Corporal, Levi Heichou. He stared at her for a few moments, taking the loaf of bread in his hand, but showing no signs of devouring the food he'd been given. She must have been selected as one of the top ten in the 105th graduating class, her stance showing signs of great willpower, her movements subtle. However, she lacked the dark tinge in the corners of her eyes, indicating her knowledge was just as limited about the Titans as an average civilian. You have no idea, do you?


Eren finally broke the silence, his voice low and soft, barely cracking as the rawness in his throat cleared. "What number did you rank?" he asked, staring down at the crumbs that fell from the crust as he ripped the soft doughy object into small pieces. He glanced up at her, a bout of frustration and eagerness slightly showing along her features. "I came in 5th, my sister graduating at the top of the class." He dropped the remaining of the bread onto his lap, resting his head against the wall once more. His chin was pointed to the ceiling, soft green eyes glancing sideways at the new recruit. He followed her gaze, the wings of freedom stitched taught on the cloak of another officer. His memory reached back to when he'd first began training, his eagerness to fight the titans coming at a great cost. Reality had struck him in the face five years after the breech in Shinganshina, striking a never-ending chord of fear and rage in his brain. "It's not glamorous if that's what you're wondering." he said, swallowing hard, his adam's apple bobbing as he rested his lids shut. Armin's face flashed behind his lids, causing him to reconsider resting his eyes, letting his lashes flutter open. He couldn't keep losing sleep like this. It would compromise his ability to fight.


His groaning stomach echoed in the room, ripping his attention back to the task she'd been given. Making sure he ate.

 

[bunbeez]

"Heh... glamorous..." She said darkly. "Trust me, I'm not expecting it to be a piece of cake." She looked at him. "I came in seventh. I guess I wasn't good enough to be in the first five..." Her right eyebrow twitched only slightly in agitation. "No, I don't know anything about them. Other than how they like to mercilessly devour human beings..." Her breath hitched. "I'm assuming that you've been through some tough shit, am I right?" Her voice was slightly nervous, and slightly harsh. There were so many questions she wanted to ask, but she knew it would probably bring back memories for him.


"So." She said after a few more moments of silence. "Anything I should be warned about? Like that girl who begs for food during meals? Or that tall guy who picks fights with everyone?" Her attention went back to the window as she saw a few of the squad leaders flipping through some notes, and pointing in different directions after each statement. 'I want to know more about the outside world.' She thought. 'I want to know what I'm really up against, and if my choices alone could affect humanity as we know it...'

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

The way she spoke about the Titans so ruthlessly struck a sour note in his mind. He quickly cleared it, only showing signs of slight discomfort and obvious exhaustion. A chuckle fell from his lips as she spoke. "I'm assuming that you've been through some tough shit, am I right?" Mind reeling back to the past few weeks, it took everything in him not to let his anger boil over. Ignorance was blissful, but bitter in the end. He allowed her to finish talking, the tinge of nervousness and agitation in her voice oddly calming. His lashes licked his cheeks as they fluttered, refusing to stay open. His head bobbed to the side, sleep threatening to wrap him in its warm and cruel embrace. The mentioning of Jean and Sasha made a short breathy laugh to lace his lips. He sighed, ignoring her wishes to know more about the recruits.


"Have you ever been swallowed alive?" he asked, watching her as she glanced out the window again. Their conversation had taken a drastic dark turn. However, if she had to learn more about the beasts, who better to learn it from? He felt a phantom pain lace his left arm. The event had left him without a scar, but the memory was scorched into his brain just as well.

 

[bunbeez]

She froze. Swallowed alive? By a titan? But why hadn't it chewed him up? She opened her mouth only slightly but then closed it. She felt so uneasy. She said nothing for the next few minutes. Charlie looked back at Eren. He looked as though he'd fall asleep any second. "If you need to sleep, then go ahead. I won't leave..." She gave a slight huff and then under her breath, she said "Mikasa might have a fit if I left you unatended..." Mikasa. That girl seemed so cold and demanding from what she'd seen of her in only eight hours. The blond boy that she had seen Mikasa talking to earlier seemed a bit odd to her. He didn't look as though he was fit to fight, but behind those blue eyes might be some pretty impacting memories.


She had so much to learn still, and she knew eventually she'd have to face titans herself. Then she'd know what its like to lose comrades and people she has known for so long. Maybe even she would die at the hands of the beasts, she didn't know. Titans were unpredictable, and that's about all she knew. She had been training at the time of the second attack, and all she remembered was everyone huddled in the mess hall, waiting for disaster to strike. though it never came. She glanced at him again, feeling a pang of discomfort. Just by his reactions to her questions alone proved that he didn't want to talk about the past.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Eren shook his head, trying to clear his mind of the heavyness of sleep. If he slept, he'd be pulled back into the nightmare. But if he was awake, he'd be living that same nightmare. "I can never win." He mumbled under his breath, words not meant to be taken lightly, or even be taken at all. He hadn't noticed the time he'd been asleep, the groggy weight trying to pull him back down.


"I can't sleep." he said softly, widening his eyes and blinking rapidly a few times before finally placing a piece of bread along his tongue. It was sweet, a slight hint of vanilla in the soft mound that he chewed thoroughly. He cleared his throat, correcting himself. "I don't want to sleep."


Eren slid to the side of his bed, the blankets that had held him in place gently drooping to the side. He'd been adorned in nothing but a pair of thin trousers that hung just above his knees, but showed no signs of urgency to get dressed. He placed a hand over his forehead, trying to stop the pounding before swiping dark locks from his face. His feet dangled just above the hardwood, a saucer that held ice-water in a pitcher left out along his bedside table. He poured himself a glass, the room silent as he drank it quickly, his long slumber making him feel ill. "Mikasa won't do anything." He said finally, sharing Charlie's view of the officers in white, their clipboards quickly filling with the names of the deceased. "She'd frown and scold you for a few minutes, but that's all the power she has over you." He rotated his left arm, feeling the joint pop as he stretched. "Seeing me out of bed, however, I might lose a few limbs." He let out a shaky laugh, a faint smile on his face. He was trying to ease the tension, knowing well that many of the new additions to the Military were more then a little uneasy around the likes of him. Especially when they knew he could devour them in a manner of second.

 

[bunbeez]

Charlie glanced at him and then went back to looking out the window. "You must be used to it then, if you're willing to get out of bed." Her statement was short and quiet. She didn't know what else to say. She let out a long breath. "So... what's it like being a shifter?" She asked. Silence. "You know what? just forget I asked that. I'm not very good with words." Her body stiffened. She didn't want to trigger anything that may cause him to lash out...


She bit the inside of her cheek, trying to think of something else to say. "But really, who's the girl who begs for food? She really irritates me." Charlie said a bit irritated just thinking about the night before, how the girl constantly poked her arm until she gave up her boiled potato. Charlie felt as if she were in for a treat, a really bloody, horrific treat that will change her completely.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Looking down at his feet, he felt his damp bangs fall in front of his eyes. He thought for a moment. Mikasa had always been there for him, cleaning up his messes, mollycoddling him. The fall of Shiganshina floated into his mind. An hour or so before it had happened, Mikasa had flung him against a back-alley wall because he said he'd wanted to be a soldier. Because he wanted to be a hero. "No. You don't really get use to it. But she would never deliberately maim me." He planted his feet on the floor, standing to his feet slowly. The effort it took to keep himself upright was far from minimal. "So... what's it like being a shifter?"


He paused, his heart beating in his ears. What is it like being a shifter? Try closing your eyes without lids, then after you've come to terms that you're always breathing in a waking nightmare, watch the world crumble at the sight of you. Wash the blood off your hands all day, but the stains never come out. Taste the bile threatening to burn holes in your throat, or hope to god those broken ribs will puncture your lungs and stop you from taking in the air you've poisoned. Listen to your family scream, watch your mother die, eat yourself alive, and drink the days in one-by-one. His eyes had been pinned on the floor for a long while, his thoughts almost consuming him. He finally ripped himself from his mind when she asked again about the annoying girl who likes food.


"That's Sasha. She's from a district to the south of Trost, a hunting village, I can't remember the name." He paused, glancing up at the opened door just in time to see Mikasa standing next to a very flustered doctor. Dr. Zoe Hange.


"Why are you out of bed?" Mikasa asked, her grey eyes glancing at Charlie, who was sitting cross-legged in the corner of the room.


( ooc: You can play Hange if you like ^-^' also I'm sorry the roleplay is going so slow right now, I'm trying to think of plot-twists that are unlike the other SNK's I've done in the past. )

 

[bunbeez]

"He wasn't up long... Can I go now?" Charlie asked a little more hopeful than necessary. But judging by the look she got from Mikasa, she just stayed quiet. She looked over and saw squad leader Hange, the one who lead the new cadets into the main building. She seemed rather elated but slightly upset at the same time.


Hange walked over to Eren and bent over, looking him in the face sternly. The room was quiet, and Charlie just bit the inside of her cheek again and looked out the window. "Aha!" Hange shouted, clearly startling Charlie. The squad leader started laughing. But everyone else seemed to be staying quiet. "Oh Eren, Eren. That was quite a spectacular fight you put up out there. I'm sure you're glad that's over, no?" The woman's voice bugged Charlie. The new cadet just let out a small grunt as she avoided looking at anyone. "Well," She turned around to face Charlie. "I suppose you two have talked? Cadet...."


"Charlie."


"Cadet Charlie helped you out some didn't she? Or was it not long enough to get to know your new squad member?" Hange gave a goofy smile in Eren's direction. "If she joins the Survey Corps, that is. I'll put in a good word for ya."


Charlie rose an eyebrow. "You don't even know me, squad leader."


"Oh but I do, Miss. Barron. I got to look over your statistics and you seem to have potential. You'll be of good use." Hange was about to walk out of the room.


"Then why do you have to put in a good word for me if-"


"It just seemed to be the thing to say at the moment. But in all else, I need to go discuss some matters with Corperal Levi." Hange strutted out of the room almost cheerfully. Charlie gave a confused look in the direction Hange walked.


"I'm.... confused." She thought allowed, not knowing she was talking.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Eren had stayed quiet the whole scene, his wide green eyes watching Hange as she looked him over. Her sudden burst of excitement never seized to make him jump, almost causing him to fly out of his skin. "W..." He was about to ask about his condition, but was cut short when the doctor turned to the new Cadet, mentioning a spot opened for her in the Scouting Regiment. He stared down at the floor, slightly offended by the girl's urgency to leave his room. It made sense to him, though. Considering his mental state, and the annoying task that many other cadets had to endure of watching over him while higher-ranked officers bustled about with other matters, he couldn't blame anyone for wanting to get out of there as fast as possible.


Mikasa stared from Charlie, to Eren, her frown deepening. "No you can't leave" she said harshly, glancing down the hall for a second. "The other recruits are off cleaning the streets, your post is here." She walked in, glancing down at the mess of breadcrumbs and pieces of discarded food. "How can I trust you with other duties if you can't even get Eren to eat." She grabbed a large chunk of bread and without warning stuffed it into the titan-shifter's face.


Eren stumbled back, having trouble growling and snarling at his sister with a mouth-full of carbs. He swallowed it almost whole, the crust cutting his throat on the way down. "I can feed myself!" He finally yelled, grabbing his sister's hand and shoving it away form his bare chest. "And I don't need to be babysat!" He shoved her away, standing up abruptly, only to have his knees buckle under him. "Leave me alone. I don't need this from you!" He growled, using the wall for support. "I can't get better if you mollycoddle me!"


Mikasa stared at him with wide eyes. As if she'd just been slapped in the face. The room seized the moment, soaking the tension in the room deep into the floorboards and releasing it into the air. Mikasa stormed out, leaving the two to stare at their feet a few more moments. Eren used the bedside table as leverage, his other hand opening the wooden drawer. Grabbing out his fresh clothing without another word. His breathing had slowed as his anger subsided, but the sudden movements and lack of food caused his head to swim. Black specks flew across his eyes, the floor threatening to pull him under. He took a deep breath, sitting back onto the edge of the bed and throwing his clothing to the floor out of frustration.

 

[bunbeez]

Charlie sunk into the chair she was in. What exactly was wrong with him? Besides the fact that he might have a very minor case of PTSD from past events... Was he like her in a sense? Did he always think he could do stuff on his own when he really needed help? She was the same way... Her cousin had looked out for her during training, and all Charlie did was turn her away and ignore her help. But Charlie was too self sentered to know what the big message was, that she absolutely couldn't do things on her own. She refused to admit that she was going downhill since her cousin's disappearance. She stood up and walked over cautiously, careful not to make any sudden movements. Her breathing became more uneasy. She couldn't find the right words. Maybe Mikasa is just worried about him... and she doesn't realize she's quite literally trying to put a protective bubble around Eren. Nothing is going to keep him from getting hurt, and she doesn't know that.


"Well ah..." Charlie started. "I'm really ignorant at the moment, and I'm sure you're aware of that..." She then averted her gaze from his head to the floor. "But you probably should eat... Just saying. It won't do you any good for you to starve. Especially since I can't stay here all day and miss my final sparring exam. I kind of have to be there for that."

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

A scoff fell from Eren's lips. The message he'd been taught during his sparing exams was this; the ones who exceed fighting the titans, use their skills to run. He glanced up at her, greed eyes meeting amber. He grabbed the rest of the loaf, taking a bite and chewing it slowly, staring at the heap of clothing he'd flung across the room. "I understand why you're nervous." He began, taking another bite. Her adverted gaze reminded him only of what he was capable of, not what he'd done. The feeling of food in his empty stomach fellt strange, leaving a not under his chest. "I can't shift if I don't have a clear objective, so you can rest easy." With that he crammed the rest of the crust in his mouth, and poured himself another glass of water. "Go, I can take care of myself."


((Sorry this one is short, I'm still thinking of some action. And I think I'll have something in a little bit.))

 

[bunbeez]

Her lips turned up into a knowing smile as her head still hung. He really was similar to her. Sure, she was also capable of taking care of herself just as well as he was. She looked up and her smile faded as she shrugged. "Alright then." She then walked towards the door, turning her head slightly to look back at him for a split second before leaving the room and closing the door behind her. She walked down the empty hall with her hands behind her head. She let out a sigh of relief. She thought he would rage, but he seemed to stay as calm as he could, even though he was still recovering. Charlie walked out of the building, and she saw everyone at work. There were horse drawn carts carrying away pieces of other buildings, and a few carts carrying dead bodies. Where to start... She looked at her surroundings a while longer before she noticed something strange. There was a tarp covering part of wall Sina. It wasn't super huge though, it was probably covering up some cracks in the wall.


She then felt a hand on her shoulder, which caused her to whip away and face the person who had touched her. It was Sasha. The girl who had been asking her for her leftovers the other night. "You're Cadet Charlie Barron, right?" She asked, her voice once again, obnoxious as ever.


"Yeah..." Charlie said matter-of-factly. "


Well You're supposed to be looking after Eren." She said, folding her arms to look as if she were in charge.


"What makes you think that?" Charlie asked questioningly.


"Well Mikasa and I have been assigned to keep track of a group of new recruits, and you're on my list." Sasha took out a piece of wrinkled paper and waved it in Charlies face.


Clearly not amused, Charlie glared at her. "Why wasn't I told this?" She grunted.


Sasha shrugged stupidly. "Now come on, go back to his room and make sure he eats something."


When Charlie rose an eyebrow, Sasha rolled her eyes and tugged Charlie by the wrist back into the building back to the room Eren was in. Sadly, Charlie knew she couldn't disobey. Sasha flung open the door and pushed Charlie inside, making her stumble a bit before she caught herself. "Sorry Barron. Can't take no for an answer." And with that, Sasha closed the door loudly, making Charlie's hands ball up into fists.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Eren had been in the middle of dressing himself, his back pressed firmly against the wall on the other side of the room, on leg half in the pair of pants he'd been attempting to slip on since the Cadet had left, the other bent awkwardly as he struggled to stay upright. He glanced up at the sudden sound of his door opening, the cadet being shoved in by none other then Sasha Braus. "Back so soon?" He asked sarcastically, pulling his other leg into the pair of tan jeans. He grinned broadly to himself, the sweat on his chest and indication he'd been working on this for quite some time. "Awh the wrath of potato-girl will be your downfall." He mumbled, in a surprisingly upbeat mood. It must have been the mini success he'd been been celebrating, because as soon as he stood pulling the hem of his pants up below his navel, he lost his footing and stumbled into the wall once more. A frustrated groan made him seem more childish then anyone had led on. It was obvious he'd completely gone against orders, being out of bed before even healing fully.


"I normally sleep in a cell in the basement." He said to her, as if telling her he was normally in a cage could give her some sort of relief about being next to a monster for the rest of the day.

 

[bunbeez]

Charlie scoffed. "I feel like I'm on probation..." She muttered as she turned her back to him. She folded her arms and slightly slouched. She could hear the rustling of his cloths as she kept her back to him. "A cage huh? that sounds fun. Doesn't sound much different than what we live in right now." She bit the inside of her cheek again, not wanting to say something out of place. 'This is going to be awkward.' She thought. 'having to look after someone who clearly doesn't need me here. Someone who thinks he doesn't need his sister.' she found herself muttering nonsense under her breath as she thought. She gritted her teeth in order to keep from asking him. She wanted to know why he was so self centered like she was... But she couldn't ask him. "If you don't mind me asking..." She took a small deep breath. "What's it like to face a titan?"

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Shuffling against the wall, and eventually making it towards the lump of olive-coloured fabric, he bent down to pick it up. His muscles whined with every move he made. With every breath he took his ribs whimper, a tight ache constricting his whole body. He tuned out Charlie's rough muttering, knowing her beliefs had felt the same as his own. He pulled his head through the soft shirt, his hair becoming disheveled. "Once we defeat the titans, we'll never have to feel the humiliation of being in a cage again." he said in a low, nonchalant tone. He got to his knees, peering under his bed by lifting up the mess of covers. He dropped his hand under the wooden frame, grasping his Military boots. Her question catching him off guard, his head snapped up, eyes shooting to the back of her head. He stared at her for a few moments. "At first..." He began taking a deep breath and pulling himself up onto the ledge of the bed. He slipped one boot on, continuing. "When you look into the eyes of a titan, you feel so much anger." He paused, slipping on his other boot. His expressions were cool, but his soft hues had a far-away glance. "You can't fuel yourself on rage, though." He slumpped back on his bed, feet planted firmly on the floorboards, knees bent off the edge as he glanced at the ceiling. "They're slow, and frankly stupid. Don't let Hange catch you talking smack about her experiments though." Resting his hands along his stomach he shifted his head to the side, gazing at her over a mound of sheets. "Fighting a Titan, is like..." He thought for a moment, a question he'd never had to answer. "Scratching an itch you've had for your whole life."

 

[bunbeez]

'You can't fuel yourself on rage...' Those words played through her head as he continued. Her eyes seemingly widened at the statement... Those were words that hit her. She wasn't sure why though... Charlie turned her head slightly and met his gaze. Her amber eyes seemed to get darker. Nothing but fear, ignorance, and selfishness could be seen within those amber orbs. "Well, if that's the case..." She turned, fully facing him. "Then it I should be able to cut through those titans like butter." Her voice obviously filled with nervousness. Charlie was never good at covering up her emotions. Her hands balled up into fists. "They must not be a big deal. I could take them..." She felt her knuckles turning white as she thought about her blades slicing through the nape of a titan. "Heh.... You make it sound easy."

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Brow furrowed at the ceiling, Eren tried not to let her words pile up in the back of his mind. You think it's easy? He sat up in bed, his eyes shooting daggers as he met her gaze. "It's not easy." He growled, picking himself off the bed, a new-found energy coursing through his veins. Her ignorance had fueled him with enough raw emotion to stand on his own two feet. "I bet you've never seen a Titan have you?" He growled, his hands balled into such tight fists his bones threatened to tear his skin. "It takes patience, skill, speed, and if you're lucky enough to live practice." His words were now heightening in volume, eyes pinned to her face. "If you charge at a Titan without any sort of tactic in mind you'll die." He took a step towards her, his boot colliding with the hardwood floor, leaving a loud thud to echo around them. "Don't go into a battle with a big head!"

 

[bunbeez]

Charlie's eyes slightly widened more, and she gritted her teeth. She felt like a fool now. She looked off to the side to avoid his fiery eyes. Her eyebrows knitting in frustration. She said nothing. No, she had never seen a titan, she had only imagined them. She wanted to argue back, but she had no words. Quite frankly, she was terrified. She's going to have to kill humanity's worst enemy and she hasn't even seen the real thing. She just tried to make herself sound brave by saying things that made her sound so... The corner of her mouth twitched, something that happened when she was trying to hold back a frustrated scream. "Well excuse me for having a big head."

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Eren had taken a few steps forward, her words sending hot breath into his face. He stared down at her, gazing into her amber hues as his own shook with frustration. The glint of innocence that had shown in his eyes long ago had vanished, leaving a razored edge to his pupils. He stared at her for a long drawn out second, his breathing slowly subsiding. "Those soldiers out there use the ignorant to get away from the Titans. That's why you have to--"


crack!


BANG!


Suddenly the floorboards sagged under them, splinters flinging themselves into the air as the wood chipped. The ceiling above their heads shifted, creaking as the beams began to heave. Eren quickly threw himself over the stranger's body, pushing them to the ground as the floor gave out. The air felt hot, stinging his wide eyes as steam swirled around them. He felt weightless, realizing the floor was no longer beneath them. He heard the heavy crash of bramble that came tumbling above them. He only had a heartbeat to react, the side of his hand flying into his mouth. There was a loud squelching sound as his teeth raked against bone. His stomach lurched as the hot copper-tasting liquid hit his tongue, splashing across his cheeks. Another earsplitting sound vibrated from the world around then, a rush of scorching wind slamming against their bodies as they fell. Suddenly the earth became still.


His tough muscled hands gently grasped the solder, skin no where to be seen along the half giant that stared blankly at the ground. Its face was missing all signs of outer organs, except for the thick green eyes that shifted.


Eren gasped, staring into the white surface of a the Titan's vertebrae. His lungs whimpered as boiling air slammed into the back of his throat, making his ribs shake. He tore his eyes away from the red sinews holding him in place, the feeling of his skin detaching causing a grunt to escape his lips. His teeth raked against the tendon, each bite letting a puff of heat to escape. Eren struggled to free himself from the meaty grip, his hands ultimately being covered in rough bite marks, blood boiling away as he pierced through the nape of the skeletal Titan's neck. He dropped to the ground, his body shaking as coughs rippled through his chest. He made his way over to the now barren bones clutching the girl, clouds rose from the red strips that evaporated in the room, leaving a damp feeling heavy on his skin. He pried the fingers open, staring down at her with concern across his thick brows. "Are you okay?" He breathed, eyes tired.

 

[bunbeez]

The moment her back struck the crumbling floorboards, the blood rushed from her cheeks. the sight before her was terrifying. They were right... you'll know when you see one. But this one was nothing like she'd pictured them. It just appeared! How could it have gotten inside wall Sina? Everything seemed like slow motion as she tried to process what was happening. She saw blood spatter across Eren's cheeks as he bit the side of his hand. There was a loud crash. The sound made Charlie's ears ring loudly. She felt the floor give way underneath her. She tried to tense her trembling body but when she saw what Eren became, the breath hitched in the back of her throat. She was unable to make a sound.


It all seemed to become silent as she watched everything happen in only a matter of seconds. Her back hit a fleshy surface, and she felt intense heat arise through her cloths. She felt the enormous hand wrap around her body and the steam that emitted from it was too much for her to bear. She swore her heart rate sped up a million times. It was tight and there was barely any room for her to wriggle free. There was no point in it, because she was no match for the hand that enclosed her body.


She felt tears roll down her sweating cheeks as a sign of terror. No sound came out of her lips. Then the muscle of the hand seemed to just evaporate away, burning her skin through her cloths. She let out a cackled cry, her eyes fogged with tears. There was only bone.


When she saw Eren pulling the fingers of the hand apart, she gritted her teeth, trying to hold back the screams she had within her throat, just itching to be set free. Her knuckles turned white as she clenched her fists, she glared at him, not out of anger, but in horror. Tears spilled from her eyes still, as she tried to sit up, her body refusing to keep still as it shook.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Eren stared at her, searching through the steam of the dying corpse. The clouds cleared slightly, allowing him to see she was unscathed. A sigh of relief escaped from his lungs, unaware he'd been holding his breath. "You're fine." He breathed as comfort, more to himself than to her. He had been afraid of crushing her with his grip, or letting her slip through his fingertips during the landing. He saw the glistening of silver drops falling from her face, and the ear that furiously gripped her staring back at him. He grabbed her from the ever quickly decaying bones, her body shivering with terror. "You're okay. We have to get out of here before it collapses."


Eren thought quickly, his eyes shifting between the evaporating skeleton keeping the bramble from crushing their skulls, and the thick layers of wood that piled around them. His body ached as he placed Charlie down on the sturdy earth and began ripping at the interior. His nails bit deep into sodden fiber, gnawing at the foundation. Fingers covered in slivers, split open at the tips he screamed at the top of his lung as he shoved and pulled at the thick planks and concrete boulders. Suddenly he began to hear a crumbling sound shaking the outside. Voices came into views causing tears to prick behind his eyelids. He stepped back a few inches, crouching next to Charlie and covering their heads with his arms and body. There was a loud crash of rocks being crumbled, Mikasa's boot releasing the steam into the opened air. The sudden breeze dried the sweat on his face. Within less then a heartbeat she swept in grabbing both younger subordinates and retrieving them from from the wreckage.


As soon as she dropped them to the ground she landed safely a few feet away her face full of anger, concern, and relief. "Eren." She breathed grabbing him by the shoulders. "How's your body feel?" Her voice was soft but the waver made her panic known.


"I'm fine." He said smoothly and shrugged away from her touch. He turned back the Charlie, eyebrows raised as if to say 'this is what you signed up for'.

 

[bunbeez]

It thrilled her to know how much Eren seemed to care about others' well being. When he shielded her, she felt protected, even though anything could have killed them both. But those thoughts ended when Eren looked at her, eyebrows raised. She folded her arms and looked away. "Don't look at me." She muttered angrily. Her body was shaking still. She didn't expect a titan to appear out of nowhere. but apart from the current situation, the titan that appeared had destroyed more than half of the entire main building. Officers and soldiers were shouthing orders at one another, and other soldiers were following them. Charlie felt herself get swept off the ground and her feet hit the roof of a building. Squad leader Hange let go of her and stood back, maneuver gear equipped. "You shouldn't be on the ground right now Barron." She said. Her green cloak fluttered behind her like a cape. She walked to the edge of the roof and yelled down at Mikasa. "Get Eren up here! And You there! Get Barron's maneuver gear pronto!" She yelled at a different cadet.


Charlie stood, hands at her sides, watching the armored titan tear through the levels of the building she and Eren had been in only moments ago. It didn't seem to be interested in any of the cadets. It only swatted them away when they whizzed past him. Charlie could have sworn that a few soldiers had died just then as they were swatted and they spiraled out of control, full on into the ground. She squeezed her eyes shut and looked away. She regretted everything...