Chapter Text
Eren stared at his hands, shaking. His green eyes widened as he realized he wasn’t transforming, and that maybe his efforts for mankind would be worth nothing in the end. Why couldn’t he transform? He bit down- again, again, again. But, again, again, again, he received only the sharp pain of injury, and no feeling of odd warmth, as he remembered accompanied earlier transformations. True, he had only transformed twice before, but…
He looked up, at the lip of the well. It was hopeless- he couldn’t transform at all. A familiar face peeked over the edge of the well, and Eren recognized the face of Levi, his corporal. His eyes were shadowed, his back to the sun above. “Eren,” he called down to him. “What’s wrong?”
Eren resisted the strong prick of tears against his eyes, feeling his face heat up. “Corporal, I-” He interrupted himself, looking back down at his hands. “No, I can…” He knew it was probably useless, but he continued to bite down, trying desperately to prove his worth on the corporal’s team. He wanted to belong, he wanted them to see that he could be of some use to mankind…
“Eren, it’s no good.” Levi’s stern voice replied. Eren couldn’t stop the strangled sobs from escaping as he tilted his head upwards to look at the blank expression of Levi. He tried to form words, but they were stuck in his throat.
“Corporal…” he whispered, knowing Levi probably couldn’t hear him.
“You had one job!” He screamed, his face contorting into a grin. “You done fucked up, Jaeger!“ Eren tried to hold back his laughter as he heard his other teammates break into giggles. “You do the thing and kill the titans!” He turned to leave, and Eren burst into a fit of laughter as Levi screamed back down at him again, “I’m getting real tired of your shit, Jaeger!”
Eren couldn’t hold in the laughter. He fell to his knees, shaking as he heard everyone above him do the same. “Cut! Godammit, Levi!” The director yelled, and Eren clutched at his stomach.
“No, it’s bullshit, man!” Levi continued, causing Eren to gasp for air. They had already done this scene almost three times. He wiped at his eyes, ridding them of tears, but staining his cheeks with faint blood. “This kid can’t even wipe his own ass!”
“Levi, for Christ’s sake!” Eren choked out, trying to stand. His body still quaked with silent laughter.
The director kept trying to direct in a serious tone, but Eren could still hear the amusement in his voice. “Positions!” The director cleared his throat as Eren assumed his rightful position. “Last take! Lets get serious here, Levi.”
Eren chuckled once more, knowing full well this would probably not be the last take.
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Armin hung motionless in the grip of the bearded titan as it opened his mouth wide, preparing to drop him in. It released his shirt, and Armin fell. He only managed a small hoarse gasp before he was sliding down the tongue of the titan. It was disgustingly vile, and he knew there was no way he’d make it out of this situation alive. He knew he’d slow down Eren and Mikasa, he was weak. He was useless. He couldn’t possibly have helped them in any way- Mikasa was much stronger than he, and Eren, while lacking in strategy, was always much more courageous and willing than he. Armin had only his wit, but of course, he couldn’t slay titans with that, and he realized this as he slid back in the titan’s mouth, knowing the end was incredibly near…
A single hand grabbed Armin’s wrist, and Armin opened his eyes, not realizing he’d closed them. They landed upon the determined face of his childhood friend, his teeth clenched, his fist holding onto Armin’s wrist. “Eren?” Armin gasped, scanning his friend’s face. Eren didn’t say anything, but instead heaved, thrusting his friend free from the claws of death that awaited for him in the mouth of the bearded titan. Armin cried out as his shoulder hit the tiled roof, but he didn’t care about that right now. He swiftly crawled back to the edge of the roof, reaching for Eren. He gasped when he saw Eren was trying to talk.
“We can’t die here, can we, Armin?” He choked out, and Armin felt tears stream down his face. Eren looked up, blood staining the area around his eyes, and he yelled with all his might at his friend as he reached out for him. “We never got Beyoncé’s autograph!”
Armin rolled onto the roof, wheezing with laughter. “Cut!” The director yelled in fake frustration, throwing his cap across the stage. Eren’s body shook so hard with laughter Armin thought he’d fall out of the mouth of the titan. “Eren, how many times do we have to do this scene! Take four, get ready, everyone.” Armin rubbed at his eyes, wiping away the fake tears. “Let’s get serious, people. Get it right this time!”
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The corporal’s squad sat upon their horses, streaking frantically through the forest at speeds that wouldn’t be possible for a normal horse. They were trying to escape. Or at least, that’s what they thought they were doing. Levi wasn’t answering their pleas for orders, and they were all becoming extremely panicked as the female titan neared them, taking out their defensive forces as if it were simple.
“Corporal!” Petra shouted, her eyes fraught with worry. “Orders, corporal!”
Erd cussed quietly to Eren’s left. “Corporal, give us our orders!”
Levi sat leaned over his horse, firmly gripping the reigns. They sped on, Levi not saying a word. “Corporal Levi,” Eren pleaded, desperately looking to Levi to give any hint of what was going through his mind. They were all in danger, they’d be killed if they did nothing! Or worse, they’d risk the lives of everyone else… “Please give us our orders!”
Levi turned slightly, giving Eren a look he couldn’t decipher. Just as he opened his mouth, Eren could tell from the smirk on his face they’d have to do this scene over again. “Drop it like it’s hot!” He screamed, breaking into laughter at the end. Somewhere on the set, someone started playing “Drop It Like It’s Hot” through the speakers, and the group slowed their horses immediately, as they were all doubled over in laughter. Auruo actually fell off of his horse, and Eren would have followed him had he not caught himself on the reins of his horse.
“Who the fuck’s doing that? Cut!” The director screamed at them, and Eren looked up to see Petra coughing, blinded by her laughter. Levi continued to ride his horse around the group in a circle, grinning like an idiot. “You guys, get it together! This is our seventh take now! Levi, say the damn line!” Levi only continued to grin, and he nodded, trying to regain the composure of his character. “Seriously! Alright, back to your positions!”