Authors Note: Hello everyone, so this is my first fanfiction. I have a feeling I got too detailed and I don't think I captured the essence of the characters very well. Reviews and opinions are appreciated. This will be an ereri/riren fanfic. It is rated M for future chapters. Also, the story may not align with the anime or manga. We've all watched the show and read the manga. I feel that it would be redundant to match everything to the anime.

Chapter One

"Ugh.. My head hurts." I say as I open my eyes while I sit up. Reaching for my head, I noticed chains dangling from my wrist. "Wha... What is this?" I look around the room feverishly. The room is bare except for the bed I lay on and one old, wooden night stand. Stone walls, floor and ceiling surrounds me. Except one wall was lined with rusted, iron bars. The air in the room is very cold and damp. "Where am I?"

"Are you done admiring your surrounds yet?" An irritated voice came from across the room. I look over and see a man of short stature behind the bars. I recognized him immediately. His small physique, short raven-colored hair and cold, emotionless stare was not indistinguishable. Standing, leaned up against the wall was the man that is said to be stronger than a whole brigade, the infamous Lance Corporal Levi.

"Sir!" I responded, shocked from the fact that the Corporal is here. Levi came closer to the bars and speaking with authority, " Eren Jaeger from the Shiganshina District, correct?" Quickly I replied while standing up, "Yes, Sir, that's me!". Putting a hand on one of the bars, Levi looks me up and down. " Not a very impressive physique, but not bad. Not too tall, but-" I chuckled and cutting him off, "and this is coming from a shorty!" Levi glared at me and finished, "and arrogant. Its hard to believe that someone like you could be a titan-shifter. What is it you want to do?"

" I want to join the Scouting Legion and exterminate all titans, Sir!" I said proudly while saluting. Levi stared at me with an expressionless face. Still saluting, I try not to fidget, however, his stare is making it difficult. Finally, after what seemed like minutes, Levi spoke, "Hmm.. If that is the case, I accept your request. You are now part of the Scouting Legion. I will be taking full responsibility of you." Without another word, Levi turns and exits the room.

Confused, I sat on the edge of my bed, waiting for his return. I looked down at the shackles that are binding my hands. Is this really necessary?I have killed at least twenty titans and plugged the hole in the wall in my titan form. In return, I get shackled and locked up like some kind of animal. I let out a sigh. People are just afraid of what they don't understand. I shouldn't hold it against them. I lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. With my ability to change into a titan, I could be humanities greatest weapon. Our only hope to regain our lost lands and expand into the outside world.I slowly closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.

The next morning I woke up to the slam of a door. I quickly sat up and looked beyond the bars to see a woman with brunette hair and rectangular glasses. "Eren Jaeger!" She squeals. " I am so happy to finally be meeting you. My name is Hanji Zoe, but you can call me Hanji. I am one of the squad leaders from the Scouting Legion. I conduct research and experiments on titans. I can't wait to work with you! So what's it like, Eren? What is like to turn into a titan? Do you get hot? Because titans have high temperatures!"

"Hanji!" A male voice shouts, silencing the woman. Walking into my view, comes Corporal Levi. "Hello, Jaeger. We'll be taking you to the Scouting Legion headquarters. You will not leave my squads sight. You will not say a word to anyone as we leave. Having you in our possession upsets the commoners and the military police. If the court had not ruled in our favor, you would be dissected upon at this very moment. Now for your safety, put on this uniform and get ready to go." Levi throws a bundle of clothes through the space between the bars.

I got up from my bed and picked up the items off the floor. I pulled the string loose that was holding the clothing together in a neat bundle. I spread out a pair of white slacks, a white button up shirt, a tan jacket, a brown skirt-like garment, and lastly a green cloak that had the wings of freedom embroidered on it. I did it. I am actually in the Scouting Legion. I look back to where Levi and Hanji are standing and notice them both staring back at me. Hanji had on a big grin and her eyes looked like they were going to pop out of her head.

"Hurry up and get dressed, brat. We don't have all day." Levi scoffed at me. I hesitantly grabbed the pair of slacks and stared at them and looked back at them. Hanji still gawking at me and Levi had turned around and was fussing about it being filthy in here. Levi then glanced back to me and glared, " What is the problem, Jaeger?"

"I.. umm.. I cannot get dressed with a woman staring at me like that!" I blurted out. Levi sighed and turned to Hanji, grabbed her and walked her to the door and shoved her out of the room. " There, brat, now hurry up." I quickly slipped off my clothes and pulled on my new uniform. As I was finishing putting on the cloak, Levi had unlocked the door to my cellar. "Lets go now. And put on that hood. We wouldn't want anyone going on a rampage when they recognize you as the titan-shifter." He turned and headed out of the room. I quickly pulled on my hood and rushed after him.

Half way down the hall, we met up with Hanji and a few others from the Scouting Legions. At the site of Levi, they quickly straightened up and saluted him. "Tsk. Fetch the horses, we are going back to headquarters." Levi retorted. The four soldiers and Hanji left in a hurry down the hall. Levi stopped and turned to face me. "We have to sign you out in the lobby. We are on the Military Police's quarters, so don't do anything rash. If they deem necessary, they will throw you back in that dungeon."

"Yes, sir." I said nervously. I followed the Corporal down the hall and then up a few flights of stairs. We continued down another hall that lead to a big open room. In the room, there are several desks and people in the Military Police uniform. Levi leads me to a tall desk in the center of the room and addresses the man behind counter. " I am Lance Corporal Levi of the Scouting Legion here to sign Eren Jaeger out."

"Oh?" Responded the man. "So General Zacklay had put the monster in the Scouting Legion's custody, eh? He should be put down like every other savage beast that roams the lands. I hope to Wall of Shina that he doesn't turn his back on us. He could be the demise on us all!" The man explained as he shuffled through some documents. I clenched my fist in anger. Who is he calling a monster? The Military Police are the ones who are the monsters. They hide in the protection of the inner walls. They are all a bunch of cowards. I can feel my skin heat up as my temper rose. I was about to give that man a piece of my mind when Levi put his hand on my shoulder. Levi sighed in annoyance, "Maybe he will be our demise, or maybe he will end the war with the titans. Who really knows? Right now the brat is our best chance of learning more about the titans and to combating them."

"Hmph. Sign here and you are free to go. Just keep an eye on the boy. You wouldn't want the reason of Humanity's fall on your shoulders." Levi scribbles his signature on a piece of paper on the desk and waves his hand in the air as to shove the conversation away. Levi turns and looks and me and says, "Let's go, Jaeger.." If follow him across the room and through a door.

The outside light was blinding. I squinted and put up my hand to block the light from the sun. I must have been in that dungeon longer than I thought. We walked down the street a little ways and around the corner. There was the other Scouting Legion soldiers with the horses. Levi took his horse from Hanji and mounted it. "It's time head back to the HQ. Mount up. Jaeger, you will ride behind me. Do not get more a horse and a half distance from me. The rest of you will form a protective circle around the boy. Word has already spread that the boy will be in our custody. We may not have a peaceful ride back."

"Here, Eren. This will be your horse for the trip back," Spoke a woman with a soft voice. She was short and has an orange colored hair. "My name is Petra, by the way. It's nice to finally meet you." I nod at her, not feeling very talkative at the moment. I took the horse's reins and mounted it. My nerves are causing me to shake a little. What does the Corporal mean that this may not be a peaceful ride?

The rest of the team mount up and took position. Next to me was Hanji and on the other side was Petra. Behind me was three men, one of them oddly dressed liked the Corporal. The three of them were talking in a hushed tone, but occasionally I could hear them say my name. When I looked back at them, they stopped to glare at me.

Levi gave his horse and nudge and started leading at a trot. We all followed. "We can't go any faster at than this pace," Petra explained. "There are too many civilians on the streets and we don't want to tire our horses out too fast. It is a long journey ahead." A few minutes later, I could hear shouting and noises in the distance. We trotted along the street and as we turned around a corner, we could see a large crowd of people blocking the road. Many of them held pitchforks and shovels and were banging them on the ground. When we got closer, they stopped shouting and banging their tools. "Give us the monster! We will end his life before he turns his back on us" Shouted a man in the front of the crowd.

I nervously fidget on my horse. I knew people would be upset about my ability to shift into a titan. However, I thought that they would be more afraid. I didn't think that they would actually riot and try to kill me. "Eren, don't worry." Petra put her hand on my arm. " Levi won't let anything happen to you."

The Corporal challenged the crowd, " If you want this monster, then come get him yourself. That is if you think you could kill him." The man looked bewilder and was about to speak, however Levi spoke over him, "Do you really thing an average citizen like yourself could kill this titan-shifter? I am sure this boy will not simply sit still while you drive your pitchfork into his heart. Like any creature, he will fight for survival. Will you really be able to end his life once he changes into a titan that is no less than 15 meters tall." The crowd looked at each other questioningly. No one willing to answer the Corporal. "I didn't think so," Levi said blatantly. "Move out of our way."

The crowd slowly lowered their weapons and made a path. Just before the path was completely clear a scream filled the air and a man in a Military Police can running forward with both his blades ready. "RAAAAAAAAA," He shouted and jumped using his 3D maneuvering gear, attaching the grapple on a building near the Corporal. Levi jumped off his mount and pulled his blades out and as soon as the man launched down from the building, striking at Levi. Levi dodged his attack by jumping to the left. He spun around and knocked over the rampaging man with a quick strike from the handles of his blades. When the man hit the, Levi stepped on his chest and laid a blade close to the man's neck. "Did you really think you could defeat me? I have slayed many titans through out my years and survived several expeditions outside the wall. You have probably only dealt with petty thieves in your career. Did you really think you could defeat someone with the kind of combat experience that I have?" Levi spoke with an authority. "Your attempt was pitiful. Go back to your home, soldier, before I change my mind." He hissed through his teeth.

Bewildered after seeing the scene in front of my eyes. "See, Eren. You have nothing to worry about," Petra reassured me. I thought to myself, Lance Corporal Levi really is amazing. I hope I will get to fight titans by his side. I don't know why I was nervous before. I'm sure nothing bad will happen as long as he is here. After the middle of the street cleared, we continued our journey. I looked a the people lined up on the side. Most of them scowling and glaring at me. I wonder if this is how things will be from now on. Will everyone always be so upset with my existence?