
Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/3379802.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Major_Character_Death, Rape/Non-Con, Underage
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      Shingeki_no_Kyojin_|_Attack_on_Titan
  Character:
      Eren_Jaeger, Mikasa_Ackermann, Armin_Arlert, Connie_Springer, Jean
      Kirchstein, Sasha_Braus, Krista_Lenz_|_Historia_Reiss, Ymir, Levi
      ackerman, Hugo, Unnamed_Bad_Guys
  Additional Tags:
      Rape_Aftermath, Emotional_Hurt/Comfort
  Series:
      Part 4 of AD's_Drabbles_and_Snkkink_Meme_Fills
  Stats:
      Published: 2015-02-17 Completed: 2015-03-30 Chapters: 2/2 Words: 5796
****** Team Bonding ******
by AlvaDomer
Summary
     After Levi's patience is pushed over the edge, his squad is split and
     sent on a disciplinary mission. But no one could have predicted what
     would happen next.
Notes
     I'm so sorry for the painful lack of originality. This is obviously
     based off the third OVA, but despite the close resemblance, I hope
     you can still enjoy the story. I would also like to apologize for how
     much Eren and Jean argue, but those two dorks are so petty, I love
     it.
     Trigger warnings for assault and I'm not sure if what Eren says near
     the start counts as homophobia, but I'll warn for that too.
     I found the prompt:
     Inspired by a line from this awesome fic (warning for non-con) http:/
     /snkkink.dreamwidth.org/13546.html?thread=9223402#cmt9223402
     “I’ll let him have the boy, right here on the ground.” He jerks his
     chin in the direction of where Ugly is watching them, unabashedly
     entertained. “He won’t be gentle.”
     So yeah, a few of Levi's squad get captured, one of the bad guys gets
     turned on by Armin, the leader says he can have him - right here, in
     front of everyone.
     Some aftermath would be super cool - emotional trauma, Armin angsting
     (preferably to Eren) about his body "asking" for rape or attracting
     perverts (seeing what happened a few chapters prior), generally Armin
     being fucked up blaming himself, his weak "useless" body etc. ;)
     just please no Jean/Armin hints, there is enough interaction (for me)
     in canon lately and I don't really like the pairing... I prefer focus
     on Armin's interactions with Eren, Mikasa, maybe some Levi
      
     As far as my other stories go, they will be continued. My life is
     just a mess right now and this is what I was able to get done. Thank
     you for your patience!
***** Sorry *****
                "You can thank Jaeger and Kirchstein for a new chance at a
little team bonding," Levi snapped as he paced back and forth in front of his
squad; an ugly scowl marring his face as they each trembled in their salutes.
 
                What would he make their "bonding exercise" this time? Last
time it was five hundred push-ups, each person sitting on each other's backs,
exchanging places after each hundred.
 
                Glowers overflowing with hatred were shot at both boys. Any
other commanding officer, and Eren and Jean would have both burst into
accusations.
 
                Even they knew it wasn't worth it in front of the Lance
Corporal.
 
                "We're going to have a friendly battle of the sexes," Levi
explained through gritted teeth, a humorless smile strained across his face.
 
                Every cadet contained a melodramatic groan.
 
                "Arlert? Ackermann? Step forward." Armin and Mikasa both
approached obediently, stoic expressions perfectly maintained. Levi handed them
both sheets of paper. "I've placed a series of flags along the paths marked for
your teams to follow. You'll take your mounts--" Connie snorted with the humor
of a twelve year old, and Levi's glare deepened. "--Springer? Drop and give me
one hundred. Now."
 
                No one dared laugh.
 
                Face twisted with regret, Connie sunk to his knees, climbing
into flawless push-up position and beginning the torture under the high noon
sun.
 
                "As I was saying, you'll take your horses, and retrieve each
marker. Placing them was a fucking waste of my time, so if you miss one goddamn
flag, I'll make your lives a living Hell."
 
                And you haven't already? Eren wanted to scoff, but somehow he
was able to keep his mouth shut.
 
                "As soon as Springer is finished, I want you at the stables and
then out of my sight," Levi spat.
 
                He was replied by a stiff chorus of, "Yes Sir!"
 
                As soon as he was out of earshot, Eren spun to Jean. "Nice
goin', asshole!"
 
                "Asshole?!" Jean cried incredulously, "This is your fucking
fault!"
 
                "Wow, really? Because I don't remember bein' the one who wanted
to fuck my sister!"
 
                In several quick strides, Jean had Eren by the front of his
shirt. "You piece of shit! Don't drag Mikasa into this!" He made sure to look
Mikasa in the eye as he added, "I respect her, and I understand if she never
saw me the same way. But I've changed!"
 
                Eren didn't jerk away. Their noses practically touched as he
leaned in to sneer, "Oh right, I forgot! Now you're gay as fuck!"
 
                "Just kiss already," Ymir snorted. "This sexual tension is
killing all of us." Everyone was howling with laughter instantly. Even Connie
was laughing through his push-ups.
 
                Jean instantly shoved Eren away. "Oh hell no!"
 
                "Yeah, no way!" Eren looked to Armin, green eyes suddenly wide
in desperation. "Come on Armin, back me up! You know I would never!"
 
                But even Armin was giggling. "I-I'm sorry Eren, but..."
 
                Eren squinted, mouth turning into a frown thick with contempt.
"Why you gotta be like that, Ar?"
 
                "I'm sorry, it's funny!" Armin cried.
 
                "You're not fuckin' sorry at all," Eren grumbled, but his
friend's giggles and Mikasa's sparkling eyes couldn't keep him from breaking in
to a bitter grin. "You're all dicks." His voice had lost, well, most of its
aggression.
 
                "I swear this is the only time I'm agreeing with you," Jean
muttered, tossing a dejected glare at the dirt. "I'm going to saddle up
Buchwald," he grumbled, stalking off to the stables.
 
                "When you get there, tell your parents I said hi, horse-face!"
Eren called after him.
 
                "That never gets old," Sasha snickered as Jean replied with a
middle finger.
 
                "I think Jean disagrees," Armin retorted with a grin, and Eren
rolled his eyes.
 
                "Shut up, smartass."
 
                Connie had already reached the high eighties, but his squad
slowly started trailing after Jean without him.
 
                "Hey wait, guys!" he whined, but Historia was the only one who
looked back regretfully.
 
                "We believe in you, Connie," Ymir called over her shoulder, and
they left him to his suffering.
 
                                      ...
 
                "So accordin' to that map, how long do you think it'll take?"
Eren asked curiously. He could hardly read at all, let alone maps. It was a
wonder he graduated in the top ten really, but neither Armin nor Mikasa minded
filling him in.
 
                "This is easily a trip lasting two full days; one there, one
back," Mikasa explained, and the impatient groans the soldiers had to hold back
could finally be released.
 
                "I don't even care who finishes first, I just want this to be
over already," Sasha moaned, climbing onto her rust-colored nag.
 
                "Same," Connie sighed, struggling to wipe some of the sweat
from his forehead.
 
                "Come on you guys! This might be fun," Historia tried weakly.
 
                "Oh yeah, because it was so much fun in boot camp," Jean
muttered, tossing his leg over the side of his own black stallion.
 
                "Hey Mikasa! Winnin' team has to the other chores for a month!"
Eren suddenly hollered, digging his heels into the chestnut hide.
 
                "Deal!" she laughed.
 
                "Mikasa!" Sasha cried, but hooves were already pounding as the
boys raced after Eren.
 
                "Dammit Eren, don't rush ahead!" Jean demanded, but he went
ignored. They all knew it was pointless. Once Eren was fueled by competitive
adrenaline, there was no stopping him.
 
                As they galloped out the city gate, greeted by the wide expanse
of Rose farmland, they split ways, each taking a separate rutted path.
 
                "Good luck!" Historia called with a friendly smile, but Jean
was willing she was burning with just as much competitiveness as Eren.
 
                Armin finally seemed in the mood to calm his best friend down.
"Eren, don't fatigue your horse so soon. He doesn't deserve that."
 
                Jean raised his eyebrows. The blonde always knew what to say to
make Eren bite his lower lip and rethink his choices. It was rather impressive,
honestly, no matter how creepy it might be, the way he clung to Eren's side.
 
                Why did it have to be Armin and Mikasa following him around
like goddamn dogs? Jean almost burst out laughing at the image of Armin with
fluffy pointed ears, wagging a poufy tail as he trotted at Eren's heels.
 
                But he still managed to find a way to silently fume as Eren
finally eased back on the reins, letting his horse slow mercifully.
 
                "When do the flags start?" Connie asked as they left the gently
swaying fields of wheat behind, pulling up to Armin's side.
 
                "Not for a while, actually," the blue-eyed boy announced, only
needing a glance at the map. "Once we're at the base of the mountains, we're
going to need to keep an eye out."
 
                "Oh joy," Jean droned. "So we get to ride, for what? Two damn
hours before we can even really start the 'mission'?"
 
                To everyone's dismay, Armin shook his head. "Three."
 
                "Fuckin' perfect," Eren hissed.
 
                "Sorry Eren," Armin repeated, earnestly this time.
 
                "Any idea how this is goin' with the girls? Who, ya know, can
actually manage to tolerate each other?" Connie moaned, tossing his head back
with impatience.
 
                "I'd have to guess much smoother," Armin admitted.
 
                "Ah, you just want to be with Sasha," Eren snickered.
 
                "Hey, at least she doesn't get mad at me for 'breathing her
air'," he fired back easily.
 
                "It's not my fault Gayger doesn't understand personal space,"
Jean said sourly.
 
                "I wouldn't have to pop your personal bubble if you just knew
when to back off!" Eren snapped.
 
                "Ymir was right. I can't tell whether you need to break each
other's noses or just fuck already," Connie sniggered.
 
                "I already did," Eren replied haughtily.
 
                Armin's eyes bulged. "Wait! Break each other's noses or f-f--"
 
                "Look! Is that one?!" Eren cried eagerly, spurring on his
steed. It sounded like this was supposed to be some sort of scavenger hunt, but
the small red flag was barely hidden, waving at the edge of the path that would
soon be winding up the mountainside.
 
                "Only fourteen more," Armin chirped, and Jean's lids half-
lowered over his eyes as he stared at the blonde.
 
                "Was that supposed to be encouraging?" Jean asked flatly. Armin
only answered with a slightly apologetic laugh.
 
                "Shit!" Eren suddenly yelped. He had been leaning off his horse
in an attempt to grab the flag. His foot slipped from the stirrup and he was
sent reeling face-first into the dirt.
 
                "Eren," Armin sighed, shaking his head as the other boys were
nearly in tears through laughter.
 
                "Right when I think you can't be any more of a dipshit, you go
and prove me wrong! Great job!" Jean mocked.
 
                "So when does this 'bondin' thing start?" Eren asked dryly,
launching himself back into the saddle.
 
                The great flaming orb above continued to crawl across the sky,
a fifth squad member overlooking the petty squabbles and impatient whining.
 
                                      ...
 
                "Hey guys, I found another one!" Eren crowed as he spotted a
little flag plunged into a crack in a boulder.
 
                "Seven more," Armin declared, glancing toward the horizon. The
sky was dusted with brilliant reds and yellows as the sun seemed to sink
beneath the earth. "Although, I think we should stop for the night."
 
                "No, Armin! What if the girls keep going?! They'll beat us and
I don't want to do their crap!" Connie squawked.
 
                "It'll be dark soon. We wouldn't be able to spot the flags
anyway. Even with torches, it would be too easy to miss one," Armin explained.
"It would give the horses a chance to recooperate, and maybe ease some
tempers." He shot Eren and Jean a look.
 
                "But what if bears or wolves or some shit show up? We don't
have our three DMG," Connie pointed out.
 
                "Then I'll just kick it's ass!" Eren dismissed with a malicious
grin.
 
                "Says the guy who got fucking eaten during his first Titan
encounter," Jean snorted.
 
                "Oh yeah, I forgot you're the one who has the highest kill
count," Eren shot back.
 
                "I take it back, Armin, you're right. They could definitely use
a nap," Connie raised his voice as he added, "because apparently they're
goddamn toddlers!"
 
                "Fuck off, Connie. He brings it upon himself," Jean murmured as
Armin rounded his horse off the path.
 
                "This looks like a nice place to stop," the blonde interjected
with a forced smile.
 
                "Fine," Eren and Jean snapped in unison, and immediately glared
at each other.
 
                "I'll start the fire," Connie volunteered. "Since they're too
busy flirting."
 
                "Connie, I swear to God, one more--"
 
                Armin's eyes widened as he watched his horse's ears swivel
back. He glanced around nervously, watching several startled birds take off
from a tree. I'm just being paranoid, Armin tried to tell himself. Maybe
Connie's talk of bears had gotten to him.
 
                Yet that didn't keep him from interrupting with an, "Um, guys?
Did anyone hear anything just now?"
 
                "Nothing but this jackass." Jean motioned to Eren.
 
                "I'm lettin' the bear kill you before I kill it," Eren growled,
plopping down next to Connie at the fire.
 
                Armin heaved a heavy sigh as he finished tying the horses'
reins to a log at the edge of the meadow. It was probably nothing.
 
                                      ...
 
                "Get up! Everyone, now!" a gruff voice bellowed.
 
                Armin's eyes snapped open at the sound of Eren's startled,
"What the fuck?!"
 
                He sat up in his sleeping bag, panicked eyes darting in every
direction. It took everything for Armin not to scream.
 
                Military-grade rifles were aimed at each of their skulls.
 
                He turned hesitantly, and was staring down a barrel held by one
of six masked men. "You're outmanned and outgunned!" the apparent leader
continued. "So I suggest you behave yourselves like good little soldiers."
 
                The man was answered by stunned silence. Eren shifted slightly,
but didn't even flinch at the click of the safety being removed.
 
                "G-guys, you...you don't think this is part of Captain Levi's
plan, do you?" Armin whispered fearfully.
 
                Laughter, ugly and disgusting, rang throughout the forest.
 
                "Oh I can assure you, this has nothing to do with your
captain," the leader explained.
 
                "Fuck," Jean hissed under his breath.
 
                "You must know that your gear can fetch quite a pretty penny,"
another said casually.
 
                "Hate to break it to ya, but we don't have it," Eren spat.
 
                The man's tone didn't change. "Then again, so do virgins."
 
                A confused cacophony of, "Whoa, wait, what?!" "The fuck did you
just say?!" "This has to be a fucking joke!"
 
                "Human traffickers?" Armin rasped.
 
                "Hell no, fuck this!" Eren snarled, grabbing the muzzle of the
gun at his head.
 
                "Eren, you dumbass!" Jean snarled, but the brunette had already
lurched to his feet, thrusting the rifle barrel into the sky.
 
                "Boy, take one more step and my men won't hesitate to shoot,"
the leader growled.
 
                Gritting his teeth as he grappled with the thug, Eren scoffed,
"Pfft, I bet they're not even load--"
 
                BANG!
 
                "Jesus Christ, Eren!" Connie cried, hands flying to his ears as
a bullet bit into the dirt.
 
                No one moved as Eren muttered, "Alright, so I was wrong.
Fuckin' sue me."
 
                "You shitstains still think this is some sort of game?" the
leader laughed. "Trust me, none of us have any problem killing you."
 
                "That would hardly be beneficial," Armin spoke up.
 
                "What was that, smartass?"
 
                Gulping, Armin repeated, "I said that would hardly be
beneficial." Even masked, it was obvious the men were passing incredulous looks
between them. "You mentioned that you plan on selling us, but...what good would
a dead soldier be to any of you? How much is that in lost sales?"
 
                "Don't encourage them," Jean hissed between his teeth.
 
                "You should listen to your friend," one of the others spoke up.
 
                But without hesitation, Armin added, "I simply wanted to
explain why that wasn't the most reasonable course of action." His words were
so formal it was almost painful, but it seemed to have no calming effect on the
obvious impatience mounting in the thugs.
 
                "I've had enough of this shit running his mouth," another man
snarled.
 
                "You think it's funny, getting smart with us?"
 
                "Of course not!" Armin cried instantly. "I only--"
 
                A gun was raised between his eyes.
 
                "Take your pants off," a particularly shorter man growled. What
he lacked in stature, it was all too obvious he made up with muscle.
 
                Armin wasn't the only one who squawked, "What?" The blonde's
eyebrows knitted with confusion as he sputtered, "What does that have to do
with anything?"
 
                "You just don't know when to shut your trap, do you?"
 
                If they were trying to embarrass him, they certainly chose the
punishment poorly. The cadets saw each other in their underwear at least twice
a day.
 
                "I said take your pants off. Now!" The short man's voice was
accompanied by the click of his gun being cocked.
 
                "I don't-I don't see how--" Armin tried, but the leader cut him
off.
 
                "I'd do as Hugo says," he laughed, and Armin paled. While the
thought of dropping his pants in front of the others hardly fazed him, exposing
himself in front of these men was a different case entirely.
 
                But there were certainly worse things they could have demanded
of him, so with trembling hands, he fumbled with his zipper.
 
                "You can't be serious," Jean blurted.
 
                "Don't make him do this!" Connie added.
 
                "The hell is wrong with you sick fucks?" Eren chimed in.
 
                "Maybe if your blonde friend had kept his mouth shut he
wouldn't have to give us a show," the leader sneered. His grin was sickening
clear in his voice as Armin hooked his thumbs on his waistband.
 
                "Are you...are you sure?" Armin mumbled, averting his gaze. "In
front of everyone?"
 
                "Yes," the short man snapped. "Face them. Show them." No
sarcastic remarks about the sight being nothing new were made.
 
                They all knew what was at stake.
 
                Struggling to swallow his saliva, Armin slowly lowered his
white jeans, blushing furiously.
 
                More awful laughter.
 
                "And the boots. Those boxers of yours, too," one of the other
men ordered.
 
                "No!" Armin couldn't withhold the cry. There was no way he was
going to completely strip for these men. He had only wanted to not to hurt
anyone! Why did they feel he deserved this?
 
                "I'm sorry, did you just say no?" the leader hissed.
 
                Armin was quickly growing lightheaded. He couldn't remember how
to breathe. There was no way this was actually happening. They were...were they
really going to make him...?
 
                "I-I can't!" Armin stuttered.
 
                "Really? Because you seemed to handle your pants just fine."
 
                "Oh, cut him some slack," Hugo dismissed his boss. "If he can't
do it, he just needs help."
 
                "H-hey, hey wait," Armin whimpered, stumbling backward.
 
                "You know, you're a pretty little thing," the man purred,
snatching the blonde by his jacket collar.
 
                "I'm a boy! I'm a boy!" Armin cried frantically, clawing at the
hand holding him.
 
                "Get away from him, you bastard!" Eren roared. But he went as
easily ignored as any of the other soldiers.
 
                Armin yelped as he was thrown to the ground, scrambling onto
all fours as he tried to climb back to his feet.
 
                But Hugo was on him in an instant, snatching one of the
blonde's thin wrists in a meaty fist.
 
                "Let go! LET GO!" Armin shrieked, twisting hysterically as his
arm was pulled behind his back. But his struggle as in vain. Hugo's free hand
made quick work of Armin's underwear, easily yanking them down to the boy's
knees.
 
                "What are you-what are you doing?!" Armin nearly screamed. His
friends only watched on in stunned silence.
 
                His voice shrunk to a tiny gasp as he watched Hugo unbutton his
own jeans. "You rotten son of a bitch! I'll--" Eren began to roar.
 
                "Eren, stop," Jean murmured.
 
                "Don't make it worse," Connie added.
 
                "What the fuck, you guys?! Can't you see Armin needs our—"
 
                "No. No, it's okay," Armin rasped. Everyone was obviously taken
aback, but the blonde took a breath of courage and looked over his shoulder.
Meeting Hugo's masked gaze, he tried, "What good would this be to you?"
 
                He was responded by a chorus of, "What?"
 
                "Doing...this would hardly be any better than killing me." It
took everything in his power for Armin not to throw a sudden kick or punch and
just try to run. "How much less would I be worth if you went through with
this?"
 
                "Still trying to talk your way out of this, huh kid?" one of
the men jeered.
 
                "Smartass has balls, I'll give him that," another snorted.
 
                "He has a point," Hugo admitted, hands still resting on his
zipper. He glanced to their leader. "It's your call."
 
                The reply was a low chuckle. "No need for false flattery. I
know if I deny it here you'll wait until my back is turned," the leader
scoffed.
 
                "You know me too well," Hugo laughed, finally lowering his own
jeans.
 
                "No-no-no, you're making the wrong choice, really!" Armin
squealed. His eyes broke from Hugo's down to the man's crotch, and every drop
of blood drained from his face.
 
                The man's erection was far too obvious in his boxers.
 
                "I-I—y-you—” Armin sputtered.
 
                “Yeah, not so smart now, huh?”
 
                “Dammit Armin, fight back!” Eren cried, voice cracking. /No, I
can’t!/ the little blonde wanted to sob as he stared at each loaded rifle. But
one glance over his shoulder made him lose all logic. Hugo was slowly sliding
off his underwear.
 
                “Get off me!” Armin shouted, thrashing valiantly. But he only
managed to knock himself off balance, the elbow of his free arm giving in to
the pressure being forced on his back. His chest fell flat against hard packed
earth, hips high in the air.
 
                Armin felt a horrifying pressure before he could even register
what he was seeing. Hugo’s grip on his wrist remained bruising as his other
hand curled around his hip, holding the struggling boy in place; ready to be
impaled. “Go ahead, let your friends hear you scream,” the man hummed, and the
biting sparks of pain burst into roaring flames of agony. Liquids were supposed
to extinguish fires, and yet the fresh rivers of blood did nothing to quench
the blaze. And no matter how hard Armin bit his lip, he couldn’t contain the
first shrill shriek as Hugo plowed into him.
 
                “You motherfucker! I’m—” BANG! Eren’s words were cut off with a
bullet planted in his forehead.
 
                “EREN!” his squad screamed as his limp body sunk to the dust. A
small pool of blood began puddling around his face. No…no, no, no, this is all
my fault! Armin realized through the next sudden, violent thrust. If he had
just let this man do what he wanted…if he had never argued…Eren wouldn’t…
 
                “Shit you’ve got a sweet ass,” Hugo groaned, digging his nails
into the boy’s flesh as he pounded into him even harder. “No wonder your little
boyfriend wanted to protect you.” First, Armin had been doing everything he
could not to fight. Now all he was trying to do was keep from sobbing.
 
                “He’s crying like a bitch!” one of the thugs howled as several
involuntary tears slipped down Armin’s face. I’m sorry…I’m so sorry…
 
                Nothing existed except for the crumpled bloody body in front of
him and the excruciating fire burning him from behind. Everything hurt and yet
Armin still felt so numb. Jean and Connie hardly looked any better. Tears were
also racing down the bald boy’s face, while the two-toned brunette stared
through the dirt in dazed horror.
 
                “Oh shit, you’re definitely not going to want to sell this one,
boss,” Hugo moaned, thrusting harder until he was sure each strike would
bruise. Each word was strained by pleasure as he repeated, “Definitely not.”
Each slam forward came to a sudden stop as the man released his loudest groan
yet. Streams of white joined the scarlet trails down Armin’s legs, soaked up
shamelessly by the soil. “Whore him out and you’ll make more than you ever
would selling him to a single buyer.”
 
                Everyone was too preoccupied by Hugo’s words to notice how
Eren’s fingers suddenly twitched.
 
                “Please no…” Armin’s words were hardly intelligible through
tortured vocal cords. Had he been screaming the entire time? He couldn’t even
remember. Maybe this is all part of the mission, he thought dimly.
 
                Jean gasped and nudged Connie as Eren’s entire hand twitched.
 
                “We won’t let you do this!” Jean blurted his best cliché.
Anything to keep their attention away from the ‘dead’ brunette.
 
                “You already did,” the leader snorted, motioning to the mess
around Armin’s groin.
 
                Connie quickly caught on. “Oh yeah?! Well you fucked with the
wrong squad! We don’t even need Captain Levi to kick your asses!” Amused
glances were passed between the men. None of them bothered to indulge the boy
with his threat. But they didn’t have to.
 
                Chest heaving, Eren slowly rose to one knee, his forehead
spitting out the bullet with the hiss of regenerative steam. As the last of the
blood evaporated from his face, a horrifying, broken grin adorned Eren’s face.
“I’m going to kill all of you,” he crooned, green eyes glowing with the savage
need for revenge. His entire being had been completely wiped of humanity, and
it was obvious to every person who saw him. The creature before them was an
animal lusting for blood in human form.
 
                A nerve-scraping mess of screams broke out from the men, half
of which simply dropped their guns in their mad dash for their horses. Eren
ignored them, chasing after all six with only his training knife and teeth
bared to rip out their throats. Jean however, took the time to stoop down and
snatch a rifle, before chasing after both the thugs and the boy freshly risen
from the dead.
 
                Connie scrambled over to Armin, trying his best to ignore the
death throes echoing from the trees around them. But by the haunted look in the
blonde’s eyes, he wasn’t even sure if Armin could hear them. “Hey, uh, don’t
worry, Armin. Eren’s okay. Jean’s okay. I’m okay, and, and you’re going to be
okay too. Okay?” At the sound of silence, he continued, “They’re going to make
those men pay, and after they do, they’ll come right back to us. Don’t worry,
it’s all—”
 
                “I’m sorry,” Armin whimpered. Connie’s jaw dropped.
 
                “What?”
 
                “I’m sorry,” Armin repeated, trembling where he sat.
 
                “Armin, don’t. the only ones who should be apologizing are
those monsters out there,” Connie nodded to the woods, “and—” they both
flinched at the loud report of Jean’s rifle, “and I’m sure they’re sorry now.
But you don’t have to be.”
 
                “I…but…” Connie brushed aside Armin’s feeble attempt to argue
and pulled a handkerchief from his back pocket. “You…Eren…”
 
                “I told you, everyone’s okay. Let’s just focus on getting you
cleaned up.” BANG! This time he didn’t even blink. Connie couldn’t remember the
last time he had been so calm; and yet he was absolutely terrified at the same
time. He wasn’t good at being serious. The last time he had been left in charge
of someone wounded, a poorly timed joke had made them cry. Sasha didn’t talk to
him for a week. But somehow he was able to keep a steady tone in his voice as
he spoke to Armin softly, holding back any more tears despite how horribly
wounded his teammate was.
 
                BANG!
 
                There was no doubt it was absolutely horrible, but something he
couldn’t quite place had him convinced that everything would be okay.
 
                BANG! Another hideous scream.
 
                “Connie?” Armin called softly.
 
                “Don’t worry Armin, those bastards are definitely sorry.”
 
                BANG!
***** Some Sense *****
Chapter Summary
     The lance corporal isn't exactly fluent in heart-to-heart, but he has
     Eren to help.
Chapter Notes
     Shout out to Kumikoko for helpin me with some of the end dialogue!
     Also, I'm pretty sure Levi didn't follow protocol.
     Sorry updates take me so long, but you know how life is. I hope you
     enjoy the chapter!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
               "The fuck have you been?" Captain Levi barked from the front
gate, hands on his hips as he watched the remainder of his squad appear. "The
girls were back hours ago!"
 
               Grip tightening on the reins as Eren gritted his teeth, he
growled just loud enough for his friend to hear, "Stay here, Armin."
 
               As all four horses were led to a stop, one riderless, Eren
circled his commanding officer before sliding off the saddle.
 
               "One of you better be sick, injured, or dead to explain this
shit time!" Levi snapped, unfazed by the glowing green embers of hatred that
had replaced Eren's eyes.
 
               Eyes shrunken to slits in anger, Eren stalked toward his
captain, the only sound the crunch of his boots on gravel.
 
               "Where wer--" Levi started. Suddenly Eren's fist was flying,
colliding into Levi's jaw with a vicious crack!
 
               The lance corporal went down in a heartbeat, faster than Eren
had time to blink. Chest heaving with his split knuckles still poised in the
air, Eren roared, "What the fuck kind of mission was that?!"
 
               "The hell are you talking about, Jaeger?" Levi spat, rubbing his
cheek as he propped himself up on one elbow.
 
               "Armin! Armin, he..." the brunette began frantically, then his
voice slowly died off.
 
               "Get ahold of yourself, Cadet," Levi growled. He glanced at the
three other boys it was his misfortune to command. Still perched on their
steeds, Jean as Connie both glanced at Armin nervously.
 
               The blonde was perched on Eren's horse, silent and staring
straight through the beast's back as if into another realm.
 
               "Arlert, get over here," Levi commanded, climbing to his feet.
"Mind explaining why I shouldn't court martial The Hope of Humanity this
fucking second?"
 
               "It's okay, Armin," Connie called.
 
               "We get it Connie, that's like the fifteenth time you've told
him that," Jean grumbled.
 
               "Come'ere, Armin. If he makes a wrong move, I'll knock his back
to the ground," Eren sneered.
 
               "That was a lucky shot," Levi snapped. "Now speak up before I
put your damn squad on latrine duty." The other boys immediately grimaced, but
Armin didn't move.
 
               "Here, I'll help you," Eren murmured, taking Armin's hand as the
blonde climbed down from the horse.
 
               "What is he, five? He's a soldier, he doesn't need help!" Levi
snorted.
 
               Connie cleared his throat and Jean murmured, "Uh, Captain...?"
 
               "Fuck," Eren hissed.
 
               "Now what's the problem?" Levi growled with an exasperated sigh.
He circled around Armin and his eyes were suddenly bulging. "Fuck."
 
               A deep scarlet stain had spread across the seat of Armin's white
pants like the bullseye of a target.
 
               They were all expecting their captain's next questions to be
along the lines of "What happened?" or, "The fuck were you doing out there?" or
maybe even, "The hell did you do to him?"
 
               But Levi simply asked, "Where are the people who did this?"
 
               "In the stomachs of crows and coyotes by now," Jean muttered
remorselessly.
 
               "You didn't get MPs?" the lance corporal asked with a cocked
brow.
 
               "Were we supposed to if there were no lives left to
arrest...sir?" Eren asked honestly.
 
               Levi's eyes darkened. "Depends. Did you kill all of them?"
 
               "Only to defend Armin, sir. They planned on selling him as a
prostitute. I have no regrets, Captain," Eren answered proudly, and glanced
back at his horse. "I have their testicles in my saddlebag if you don't
believe--"
 
               "I...believe you, Jaeger," Levi muttered hesitantly, eyes closed
in an attempt at self control. When those steel irises opened, they seemed to
have taken on a whole light. "Springer, get a medic. Kirchstein, I needed you
in Smith's office with a field report two hours ago. Jaeger, you stay with me
and Arlert."
 
               There was a resounding chorus of, "Sir!" and the other boys rode
off.
 
               "Does Kirchstein plan on riding his horse into...fuck it." Levi
turned his attention back to the two best friends in front of him. No matter
how intently he stared at the blonde, Armin wasn't looking up from...his
fingers, the dirt, levi wasn't really sure. "Arlert, I know I'm not cut out for
this shit, and you probably don't want to tell /me/, but you're going to have
to. No matter how difficult this is, you need to say what happened out there."
 
               "They wanted to make him a prostitute so I cut their balls off,"
Eren repeatedly bluntly, shifting slightly so that he blocked Armin from their
captain.
 
               Levi began massaging his temples. "Yeah I gathered that," he
tried not to snap. "I meant the blood on his damn pants."
 
               Eren clamped down on his jaw, fingers clenching shut tightest
against his palms.
 
               Levi didn't try to fight his long, heavy, sigh. Why did it have
to happen to his soldiers on his watch? Victim interviews were hardly his
forte. "Neither of you are doing yourselves any good by remaining silent. I
need to know what we're treating you for, Arlert," Levi tried speaking to Armin
straight through Eren.
 
               But the brunette wasn't having it. "I cut their fuckin' balls
off and Armin's bleeding! What do you think happened?" Eren snarled, throwing
a protective arm across the blonde's chest.
 
               Levi let out another sigh. "I'm going to go out on a limb here
and say you were raped. Am I correct, Arlert?" he prayed that don't sound as
sarcastic out loud as it did in his head. "Look...it's nothing to be ashamed
of, you can say it. If anyone gives you crap, tell me." Levi's job came down to
one thing and one thing alone: defend your men.
 
               And he had failed.
 
               The least he could do now was defend Armin from anyone harassing
him from now on. That was hardly any consolation but he wouldn't fuck up this
time.
 
               Armin never said a word, only nodding silently.
 
               "Shit," Levi couldn't help but hiss. Despite the blaring
evidence, he had hoped the boy would shrug and say it was a freak riding
accident or something equally stupid.
 
               "Hey!" Eren cried as he was shoved aside, but went ignored by
friend and commading officer.
 
               "You listen to me and you listen to me good, Arlert. I'm going
to say this as many times as I need to for it to stick in your skull." Armin
never acknowledged him after that one head nod, but Levi charged on. "What
happened out there today was not your fucking fault. You hear me?! Not. Your.
Fault. If anything, this was mine. I sent you right into their hands, and I
would've castrated them myself if Jaeger hadn't beaten me to it. You did
nothing wrong. You did nothing to deserve this. No one looks down on you." The
lance corporal cleared his throat. "Uh, and uh, yeah. Jaeger, you're sure you
got all of them?
 
               Eren gave him a twisted grin. "I hunted them down like the dogs
they were," he assured the man giddily.
 
               Levi returned Eren's smile with an approving nod. "Goo--" he
started, but Armin's fragile voice broke in.
 
               Shifting awkwardly, armin mumbled, "Th-they...picked me because
I-I am the weakest one..."
 
               He flinched at the booming, "Bullshit!" that Levi and Eren
roared in unison.
 
               Armin took a small step back. "I would have been kicked onto the
streets had it not been for my brain," he insisted. "And that couldn't even
save me out there..."
 
               Levi looked to Eren. "Jaeger, talk some sense into this brat
before I slap him."
 
               "Yes sir!" Eren cried loyally. "Armin, you know that's not true!
You can keep up with all of us now! Just because you were slow in boot camp
doesn't mean you deserved what happened today! I ranked fifth out of our entire
trainer squad and got shot in the head!"
 
               "What?!" Levi practically choked.
 
               "Nothing," Eren dismissed quickly. "My point is, our trainee
results hardly prove what'll happen once we're out in the real world unarmed.
None of could've done anything until it was too late. We're more to blame than
you are. We stood around and did nothing."
 

                Instead of some sort of grateful smile for the encouraging
words, Armin snorted bitterly. "Yeah, thanks," he murmured.
 
               "Stop," levi ordered immediately. "If you want to play the
shitty blame game, blame me. I sent all of you out there without weapons.
Thought I was fucking hilarious. Guess it's pretty funny now, isn't it?"
 
               A smothering silence fell over them until Armin glanced to the
side shamefully. "Don't think I'm pissed at you, because I'm not. I'm
just...not sure how this whole...sympathy thing is supposed to work," Levi
admitted awkwardly.
 
               "We can tell," Eren snickered.
 
               "That's insubordinate, Cadet," Levi growled, but his scowl
didn't appear as terrifying as he wanted. Levi's heart wasn't into it.
 
               "M-may I go now? It..." Armins voice trailed off with a shudder.


 
               "Oh, Armin doesn't like blood being on him," Eren completed his
friend's unfinished sentence.
 
               Levi crossed his arms across his chest. "Dismissed. Jaeger, stay
with him."
 
               Both boys saluted, Eren's hand intertwining with Armin's as Levi
stalked off.
Chapter End Notes
     It's anyone's guess what Eren plans to do with a bag of severed
     testicles.
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