Wings of Freedom. Part 7

      “I see you managed to make it,” Hanji remarked as you took your place behind her on the balcony.


      “Yeah,” you murmured distractedly.


      You looked down below where Eren was bound by handcuffs to a pole in the center of the court, forced into a kneeling position. Opposite your side you could see Armin and Mikasa standing with the other soldiers on the ground floor. Even after several days, to see them alive was just… alien to you. You could hear the Commander-in-Chief droning about the special circumstances surrounding the trial. You were so focused on Eren that you jumped slightly when you felt a hand on your shoulder.


      “(y/n), everything is going to be fine.” Hanji reassured you, her voice soft to avoid disturbing the trial below.


      “Only if the proposal actually works.” You hissed, “If he ends up handing Eren over to the Military Police he’s dead.”


      You looked back down to the trial, narrowing your eyes at the Commander of the Military Police, “Dawk doesn’t even care that Eren saved everyone.”


      “He’s afraid,” Hanji said, turning her gaze down to where a member of the Wall Cult had spoken up below, “They all are.”


      You shifted your attention to the other side of the room where Erwin was just beginning his proposal. However, as Erwin explained his plan of using Eren to reclaim Wall Maria, you could see the unrest building up in the room. Numerous people in the group began to exchange nervous glances.


      “Just a minute!” One of the people standing near the Wall Cult members called out, “This time, shouldn’t we seal off every single gate? The Colossal Titan is only able to destroy the gate portion! If we reinforce those areas we won’t ever be attacked again!”


      “Shut up, you dog of the merchant association!” Another voice called out from the other side, “If we use his titan power we can return to Wall Maria!”


      “We’ve had enough of you people playing hero!” The merchant called out again.


      “Playing hero?” You hissed, seething at the argument below.


      Hanji gave you a concerned glance, but you didn’t notice, instead gripping the barrier in front of you in frustration. Below you could see poor Eren whipping his head around to face each person as they cried out.


      “You sure talk a lot for a fat pig.” You heard a familiar monotone voice drone, “What guarantee do we have that the titans will wait for us while we seal and reinforce the gates? When you say ‘we’, you’re talking about the friends you’re protecting so you can get fat. You pigs don’t even notice the people who are struggling to eat because there isn’t enough land.”


      The merchant struggled to regain his argument, “We’re simply saying that if the gates are sealed, we’ll all be spared.”


      “Stop it! You sacrilegious scoundrel!” The pastor from before interjected, “You would dare lay human hands on Wall Rose, a gift from God? Look at that divine masterpiece beyond human understanding!”


      You scoffed, tuning out the Pastor and focusing instead on Eren. He looked incredibly nervous from his position, and you couldn’t blame him. Half the eyes in the room saw him as a monster to be feared, and the other only as a tool to be used. You turned to the cadets standing at attention.


      ‘With the exception of a few.’


      The judge silenced the pastor and merchant, who had become quite heated in their argument, before addressing Eren again, “Jaeger, I want to know. Can you, as a soldier, continue to help humankind by using your titan powers?”


      “Yes, I can!” He answered with enthusiasm, relieved that someone had asked for his opinion.


      “Oh? But this is what’s written in the report of the attack on Trost District,” The judge pulled out a piece of paper and began to read it off, “After turning into a titan, he swung his fist at Mikasa Ackerman.”


      Eren’s eyes widened, and he spun to look at Mikasa, who quickly covered part of her face with her hair. She turned to glare at the soldier next to her, most likely the one to file it. You felt your own gaze widen, you hadn’t read that part of the reports. Eren surely wouldn’t have tried to attack her, she was like a sister to him. Surely there was something else, some other reason that they hadn’t given.


      “Who is Mikasa?” The judge called out.


      “That would be me,” Mikasa answered after a moment. Numerous pairs of eyes turned to fix on her.


      “Is it true that Jaeger in titan form attacked you?” He questioned.


      Mikasa paused, obviously conflicted, “Yes, it’s true.”


      The crowd began to talk amongst itself, shocked by this news. You felt your heart sink. If this kept up then Eren was going to be given to the Military Police for sure.


      “However, two times prior to that, Eren in titan form saved my life.” Mikasa called out over the murmurs, “The first time, just as I was nearly captured by a titan, Eren stood in its way to protect me. The second time, he protected Armin and me from an artillery shell. I would like you to take these facts into consideration.”


      Your eyes widened. The Garrison wouldn’t have accidentally fired in an area where there were soldiers. Which meant that they had tried to kill the three of them in cold blood. Your grip on the bannister in front of you tightened, making the wood groan from the pressure. Hanji reached over and gently pulled your hands from the barrier. You jerked your hands away from her, but forced yourself to relax. If Hanji of all people was trying to calm you…


      “Just a moment!” Dawk raised his voice, “Your testimony contains a considerable amount of personal emotions. Mikasa Ackerman lost both of her parents at a tender age, and the Jaeger family took her in.”


      You paused as realization dawned upon you. Back in Shiganshina, when she had comforted you after hearing about your parents. It really was sympathy in her eyes back then.


      “In addition, our investigation into the events of that time uncovered shocking facts.” Dawk continued, “Eren Jaeger and Mikasa Ackerman, both nine years old at the time, stabbed and killed three men who tried to rob and kidnap her.”


      Your breath caught in your throat. Murmurs again filled the room.


      “While it may have been justifiable self-defense, this cannot help but cast doubt on his fundamental humanity.” Dawk criticized, “Should we entrust him with the fate of humankind and all our resources?”


      “Maybe he was just a titan who snuck in as a child.” One voice suggested from underneath your position.


      “And her too!” a voice called out, jabbing a finger in Mikasa’s direction, “Who knows if she’s really human?”


      “We should have her dissected to be sure!”


      Your wings attempted to flare out on instinct, and you were grateful for the sturdy straps that held them in place. How could these people begin turning on the very soldiers who saved Trost? Were they truly that terrified?


      “Now hold on!” Eren burst out, “I may be a monster, but Mikasa has nothing to do with that! She’s not involved!”


      “We can’t believe you!”


      “It’s a fact!” Eren was becoming hysterical as he attempted to defend his adopted sister, who had assumed a look of horror on her face.


      “Covering for her proves you’re together!”


      “That’s not true!” Eren screamed.


      He strained against the cuffs holding him in place, the echo of the metal plunging the room into silent shock.


      “No… that’s not true…” Eren continued in a lower voice, his head hung, “You’re carrying on using whatever excuse is convenient for you. In the first place you people have never seen a titan. So what’re you so afraid of? What’s going to happen if people who have the power don’t fight? If you’re afraid to fight to go on living, then at least help me!


      Eren strained against his binds, cutting into his wrists and causing steam to fill the air around him, “Why can’t you just shut up and take a chance on me?!”


      The room was silent after Eren’s outburst. Some were trembling in fear at the display, others at the stinging truth of his words. You felt a slight stirring of hope. Maybe the judge would decide to give Eren to the Survey Corps after all.


      “Take aim!” Dawk ordered the soldier next to him, who quickly raised his rifle.


      THWACK


      Crimson blood flew out of Eren’s mouth as Levi’s kick knocked out a tooth. Eren turned to face the Captain, eyes full of questions. In response, Levi sent another kick to his gut. He grabbed Eren by the hair, pulling him forward only to knee him in the face. The sounds of Levi’s relentless assault echoed throughout the chamber. On impulse, you attempted to climb the railing in front of you, forgetting that your wings were bound. Only Hanji’s quick instinct to pull you back kept you from injury, and even then is took Mike’s assistance to keep you restrained. Far across the room you could see Mikasa fighting against Armin as well. Eren gasped in pain, struggling not to choke on the blood pouring freely from his mouth and nose. Levi silenced him by stomping his face into the cold tiles below.


      “This is just my personal philosophy,” Levi spoke, breaking the tense atmosphere of the room, “I think pain is the most effective punishment. What you need now can’t be taught by words, only action. You’re bent over on your knees, which makes you easy to kick.”


      To punctuate his statement, Levi sent another blow to Eren’s face before stomping on his head several times. Eren’s cries of pain grew weaker as he struggled to remain conscious.


      Dawk was the first to act, “Wait, Levi.”


      “What?” He snapped, his foot holding Eren’s head forcefully against the pole behind him.


      “It’s dangerous. What if he gets mad and turns into a titan?” Dawk questioned, visibly shaken by the display despite efforts to disguise it.


      “What are you talking about?” Levi moved his foot and pulled up Eren’s bloody and swollen face by his hair, “Weren’t you guys going to dissect this guy?”


      Dawk was silent.


      “I heard this guy in titan form killed twenty titans before stopping from exhaustion.” Levi droned, “If he’s an enemy, his intelligence could be troublesome. But then, he’s not my enemy.


      He turned to face the crowd, “But what about you people? You guys who persecuted him better think about that. Can you really kill him?”


      Erwin raised his hand, “Commander-in-Chief, I have a proposal.”


      “What is it?” the Judge questioned.


      “There are many unknown elements of Eren’s titan powers, and there will always be hidden dangers.” He began, “Therefore, I’d like to put Captain Levi in charge of Eren, and explore the exterior.”


      “By taking Eren with you?” the judge quizzed.


      “Yes. We’ll find out if Eren can control his titan powers, and whether or not he is of benefit to humanity.” He turned to face the Commander-in-Chief, “I’d like you to make your decision after our results are in.”


      “Control Eren Jaeger, eh?” the judge mused, “Can you do it, Levi?”


      “If you mean ‘can I kill him’? Certainly.” He answered coldly, “The thing is though, that there are no halfway measures.”


      The room was silent as the judge considered the proposal.


      “I’ve made my decision,” he announced, “Eren shall be placed in the custody of the Survey Corps.”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


      “Man, that was vicious, it must hurt,” Hanji murmured, gently tending to Eren’s cuts and bruises.


      “A little…” Eren admitted, holding up a cool cloth to his face. His face was fairly swollen from the assault.


      “So, how does it hurt?” Hanji questioned, her inner scientist beginning to show as a grin crept onto her face.


      Eren gave her an expression of disbelief.


      “Sorry about that,” Erwin apologized, stepping in front of Eren, “But because of that, he let us have you. It allowed us to play the card we had up our sleeve with great effect. It was well worth your pain.”


      He knelt in front of the boy, extending a hand, “You have my respect. Eren, I look forward to working with you.”


      Eren eagerly grasped the hand in front of him, “Y-Yes! Thank you for having me!”


      Levi plopped down on the couch, causing Eren to flinch, “So, Eren. Do you resent me?”


      “N-No,” Eren stuttered out, “I realize it was all an act you had to put on.”


      “Good then,” Levi sighed.


      “You could have been a little gentler,” the door closed behind you as you stepped into the room, “I think I saw a tooth get knocked out.”


      “(y/n)!” Eren called out, shocked at your appearance. You gave him a soft smile.


      “You’re right.” Hanji agreed, opening a small bundle of cloth to reveal a bloody tooth.


      “Don’t pick it up. That’s disgusting.” Levi scolded, visibly repulsed.


      “This is a valuable sample.” Hanji stated as you walked around her to claim the seat on Eren’s other side.


      “Now wasn’t that preferable to getting dissected by those guys, Eren?” Levi asked.


      Eren didn’t seem to be listening, instead staring at the tooth with a mix of disbelief and disgust. You reached over to his lap and grabbed his hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. He blinked, slowly turning and giving you a small smile of thanks.


      “Eren, let me see inside your mouth.” Hanji demanded.


      Both you and Eren stared at the eager researcher. You rolled your eyes. There was a lot of this in store for Eren with Hanji around. After a moment, Eren reluctantly opened his mouth, allowing Hanji to peer inside.


      “Huh?” Confusion covered her face, “It’s already… growing back.”