I'm Eren Yeager

"Ereh… Ereh…" Mikasa's soft, exhausted voice pierced through Eren's ears, pulling him out of the haze that clouded his mind. His head felt heavy, eyes barely parting as they met the wooden ceiling above. A shallow breath escaped his lips, followed by the faint sensation of her fingertip poking his cheek.

"Ereh, wake up. Time to go." she whispered, smiling gently at him. Her head rested on his arm, her leg draped lazily over his waist.

Eren blinked slowly, his gaze focusing on her face—soft in the dim morning light, strands of black hair brushing against his cheek, wearing the scouts regiment jacket over her usual clothes.

A small, tired smile tugged at his lips before he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her nose. Mikasa's smile deepened at the affectionate gesture, her eyes half-lidded and warm.

"Good morning, love..." Eren whispered and she nodded happily," Good Morning, Ereh." He stared at her face for a while and then with a reluctant groan, he pulled himself upright, gently untangling from her embrace.

Sliding his boxers up followed by his trousers and shirt, he moved toward the bathroom, rubbing his face to shake off the lingering fatigue.

The day ahead weighed on him. Hange was arriving today, alongside the new recruits: Historia, Connie, Sasha, and Jean. Their team—Levi's new Special Operations Squad—was starting to take shape. Mikasa and Armin were part of it too, and the thought brought a fleeting sense of relief. At least they'd all be together.

As the door clicked shut, both started to advance towards the training grounds while teasing each other.

————————

The sun hung low, casting an eerie, golden glow across the open field. It stretched endlessly into the distance, the wind cutting through the tall grass in slow, sweeping waves.

Six figures stood in a line—Historia, Connie, Sasha, Jean, Armin, and Mikasa—each with differing expressions of apprehension and impatience as they faced Eren and Levi.

Eren stood tall beside Levi, his expression calm but sharp, far from the groggy boy who'd kissed Mikasa awake that morning.

His gaze swept across the recruits, lingering on Jean, whose usual smirk was nowhere to be seen, and Sasha, whose stomach let out an audible growl that earned a glare from Levi.

Levi stepped forward, his arms crossed, his sharp eyes narrowing on the five recruits. "Alright, brats," he began, his voice cold and cutting through the wind. "I don't care how special you think you are. Out here, you're no different from dirt under my boots until you prove otherwise."

Eren glanced at the recruits and couldn't help but smirk faintly. He knew Levi's words were meant to set the tone, but it was also amusing.

Jean couldn't help but give Eren quick glances and Connie nervously looked between Levi and Sasha, who seemed downright horrified.

Mikasa stood quietly a faint smile tugging at her lips as she stared at Eren who smiled back at her waving while Armin adjusted his hair against the wind, his usual analytical gaze already sizing up the situation.

Eren stepped forward, his expression softening as he took the lead. Levi, standing back with his arms crossed, watched silently, his steely gaze sharp as ever. Compared to Levi's cold precision, Eren's voice carried a warmth that the recruits weren't used to.

"Scouts," Eren began, his tone calm yet firm, sincerity evident in every word. "As per your skills, you've been selected for the Special Operations Squad—or, as you've probably heard, the Levi Squad."

The recruits straightened instinctively at the name, their eyes flickering with both pride and a little fear.

Eren continued, stepping closer, his gaze meeting each of theirs in turn. "From what I've seen and learned, all of you have performed exceptionally well in past expeditions. You've shown courage—real courage. And let's not forget, it was all of you who risked everything to retrieve me from the Armored and Colossal Titans."

There was a beat of silence as Eren paused, his eyes narrowing slightly with emotion.

"I'm grateful for that." His voice lowered, the weight of those words sinking into the air. "To have you fight by my side… it means everything."

Connie's nervous grin faltered as his expression turned serious, while Sasha blinked, looking surprised by the unexpected praise. Even Jean, who was just frowning, found himself awkwardly straightening his back at the recognition. Armin smiled at Eren's words while Mikasa kept dealing with her nose bleed.

Eren's lips quirked into a faint smile as he finished, "And I'm looking forward to working with each of y..."

But suddenly his words quivered as out of nowhere, a loud voice echoed across the field.

"Eren!!!"

Before Eren could react, Hange shot out from behind the castle like a human missile. She collided with him, slamming herself onto his back with such force that his boots scraped against the dirt as he staggered to keep his balance.

"Hange, what the hell are you doing?!" Eren groaned, half-annoyed, half-bewildered as he struggled to pry her off. Hange, however, only grinned mischievously, her arms wrapped around his neck like a particularly clingy backpack.

"Ah, don't be so grumpy, Eren!" she teased before her gaze flicked toward the recruits standing nearby. Her expression brightened as she finally dismounted him, landing lightly on her feet with an energy that only Hange could possess.

"Ohhh…" Hange's eyes narrowed as she sized up the six recruits, her grin stretching wider. "So, they're here."

Hange spun on her heel and bounded toward Levi, raising her hand high. Without warning, she delivered a loud smack to the middle of his back.

"Yo, Levi!"

Levi didn't flinch. Not even a millimeter. He barely moved at all, except for the sharp, unimpressed glance he shot over his shoulder. The look alone was enough to make most people wither, but Hange—unfazed as ever—smiled cheekily at him, casually draping his hand around his shoulder.

Levi sighed, the sound low and heavy with familiar resignation. He turned back to the recruits, completely ignoring her antics.

"Anyway," Levi continued, his sharp tone cutting through the awkwardness lingering from Hange's antics, "I don't think I need to explain much else since you're all probably aware of the upcoming experiments we'll be conducting."

The recruits exchanged uneasy glances, Sasha shifting nervously while Historia's face darkened.

Levi's cold gaze swept over the group, his voice unwavering. "Until then, you'll be staying here and training under me. And believe me—" his eyes narrowed, a flicker of something menacing in them, "I won't tolerate anyone slacking off."

———————

Eren exhaled, his eyes shifting momentarily from each familiar face. A faint, almost nostalgic smile tugged at his lips, though it quickly vanished when Levi's calm, unrelenting voice broke the silence.

"Eren." Levi's tone was flat, unwavering, pulling Eren out of his thoughts.

Eren turned to face him, watching as Levi quietly slipped away from Hange's enthusiastic grasp. The way Levi's deliberate steps carried him forward sent an unmistakable signal—Eren knew exactly what was coming.

A smirk curled across Eren's face, a flicker of fire sparking in his green eyes. "Mika... Here." His voice was low, steady, as he shrugged off his jacket and handed it to Mikasa, his gaze fixed squarely on Levi.

Levi, unphased, mirrored the action. Now side by side, the two stood clad in their half-sleeved shirts, black trousers hugging their forms, boots laced high, covering their shins.

Mikasa approached Eren quietly, her footsteps soft but deliberate. Leaning close, she whispered into his ear, her voice a mix of tenderness and determination. "Ereh… You have to win for me."

Before Eren could react, she pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, the gesture bold and unhesitating. Without a trace of embarrassment, Mikasa stepped back, her face calm as if nothing had happened.

The recruits gawked, momentarily stunned.

"Dang, Mikasa..." Connie muttered with a teasing smirk, nudging Sasha.

Sasha grinned and patted Mikasa's back encouragingly.

Jean's face contorted into a mix of frustration and jealousy as he crossed his arms, glaring off to the side like a kicked puppy. "Tch… Unbelievable…"

Historia, meanwhile, stood off to the side, her expression blank as ever.

Levi, ever the buzzkill, stepped forward, his sharp voice slicing through the atmosphere. "Oi, idiots. Stop gawking and pay attention. Witness this closely."

Eren straightened up, his teasing smirk replaced by a focused expression as he turned to face Levi. Both of them locked eyes, an unspoken challenge crackling between them.

Levi inhaled deeply, his stance shifting as his muscles coiled with precision. Across from him, Eren mirrored his stance, his body falling into that natural readiness that came with instinct.

And then, almost imperceptibly, something shifted.

It wasn't just a change in their posture or the way their eyes remained closed—it was deeper, a ripple of something primal awakening inside them, the Ackerman instinct.

Both opened their eyes, the earlier light now consumed by darkness. A focused silence descended over the field. Muscles coiled like steel cables, fists clenched tight as though the air itself might shatter beneath their grip.

"Eh?" Armin's breath hitched, his eyes widened, before he could blink, Eren was already infront of Levi, his fist lancing through the air. His forearm skimmed against Levi's cheek with the force of a bullet, leaving a rush of displaced wind in its wake.

Levi didn't flinch. His reflxes quick and focused, eyes flashing with predatory sharpness. His fist shot out like a piston, aiming straight for Eren's gut.

But Eren immediately caught the strike in his palm with a resounding thud, the tension sending shockwaves up his arm.

Eren pivoted sharply, his stance shifting with practiced precision. In one swift motion, he pulled Levi off the ground, his grip unyielding. For a moment, Levi was airborne—

In mid-air, Levi twisted like a phantom, his boot snapping forward with deadly precision. The kick landed squarely against Eren's abdomen, the force reverberating through his body like a sledgehammer blow.

Eren grunted, his balance broken for a second as he skidded backward across the dirt, dust trailing behind him like smoke. He dug his heels in, grinding to a stop.

The recruits could barely comprehend what they were witnessing.

"Did—did you see that?" Connie stammered, his voice a mix of awe and disbelief.

Sasha's jaw hung open, her hands gripping her knees as she tried to process it. "They're moving so fast...."

Jean shook his head, swallowing hard. Armin stood still, his eyes fixed on Eren. The dust hadn't even settled around him, but his posture was unwavering, his gaze locked back onto Levi like a predator stalking its prey.

"Erehhhh!!! You can do it!!" Mikasa cheered with a smile. But Eren didn't respond expression mirroring Levi's, calm and composed one, who adjusted his stance, his half-lidded eyes silently daring Eren to try again.

"Not bad, brat." Levi's voice was smooth but edged with the faintest hint of satisfaction. "But you're still moving like a rookie."

Eren wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth, his lips twisting into a sharp grin.

Eren straightened his back, his knuckles popping as he flexed his fingers, the sharp cracks breaking the silence like distant thunder. A shift coursed through him—subtle, yet unmistakable.

The tension in his muscles grew taut, coiling like a loaded spring ready to unleash.

"Hahhhhhh....."

His breathing slowed, measured, as though every breath was sharpening his focus.

"Prepare yourself..." Eren murmured....

Those were his last words before the air between them shifted, heavy with unspoken resolve. Eren and Levi locked eyes— ready to collide— unleashing their full potential.

The battlefield erupted into chaos. Each strike sent shockwaves through the earth, dust swirling around them like a wild tempest. Fists met forearms, elbows grazed jaws, boots tore through the dirt with every dodge and counter.

Every movement was honed to perfection, their strength so evenly matched it was as if they were shadows of each other, each predicting the other's next move.

Levi's speed was relentless, a flash of sharp precision as he darted in and out of Eren's range, landing brutal blows. Yet Eren, refusing to back down, countered with sheer force—his hits landing with bone-rattling intensity. Neither of them gave an inch, even as the minutes dragged on and exhaustion began to wear at their edges.

By the end of it, the sun had sunk lower, bathing the field in deep amber hues as the dust finally settled. Both of them sat slumped on the ground, their chests rising and falling with ragged breaths, faces smeared with dirt and streaked with blood.

Their final result: broken fingers, cracked ribs, and bruises that would tell stories for days. Cuts lined their knuckles and jaws, battle-worn but somehow triumphant.

Mikasa and Petra hurried to their sides, both women wearing matching expressions of worry as they knelt to tend to their stubborn husbands. Mikasa cupped Eren's face gently, her fingertips brushing over a cut on his cheek, her brow furrowed. "Ereh… You shouldn't have pushed yourself that far." she murmured, though her voice held no scolding—only concern.

Eren smiled pulling her close pressing his face against her chest though relieved that he hadn't grown much weaker over the past few months. She embraced back running her hands down his hair.

Meanwhile Petra let out an exasperated sigh as she dabbed at Levi's bleeding lip with a cloth. "You're impossible, Levi. Do you have to go this far every time?"

Levi, leaning back on his palms, winced slightly but smirked through the pain, his eyes drifting toward Eren. "Tch… idiot you've gotten better..."

Eren chuckled faintly, wincing as Mikasa pressed a bit too hard against one of his bruises. "You too, partner."

Eren grinned as he raised his fist towards him and Levi sighed giving it a gentle bump.

Mikasa, couldn't help the faint smile tugging at her lips as Eren met her gaze. "But you did win for me," she whispered, her voice soft enough for only him to hear.

Eren smiled through his split lip, leaning back slightly as the golden light of sunset painted their faces. He and Levi exchanged one last glance—two warriors who had tested their limits and come out stronger for it.

"Let's call it a tie," Eren finally said, his voice low but content.

Levi snorted, rolling his eyes. "Fine. But don't get cocky. Next time, you're eating dirt."

"We'll see about that..."