Chapter Text
The crowd roared to life around him, cameras flashing brightly when Willy Tybur stepped onto the stage. To think war would be declared in the internment zone, of all places, without a single person among the crowd knowing.
But Eren knew what was about to happen and was powerless to do nothing but watch. Yet, a part of him felt oddly satisfied to know that this would be the night that brought about the beginning of Marley's end.
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“Zeke, I’ve thought of you as my son all this time.” Mr Ksaver drew him into a warm embrace, his body almost feeble beneath Zeke’s trembling hands. “I couldn’t think of anyone better to inherit my titan. I know you’ll accomplish wonders beyond what the eyes can see”.
When Zeke opened his eyes for what felt like the first time, the first thing he felt was a deep loss of having been the one to take the man he considered his father's life. He had given him the life he never had with his own father, and now it was his turn to finally choose what he wanted to achieve.
He never thought he’d have not only the power of the beast titan within, but royal blood coursed through his veins. He was finally going to end Eldia’s suffering, and it would all came back to his father, Grisha Yeager.
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The other warriors had kept to themselves after they’d all inherited their Titans, most likely facing the memories of those that came before them. For Zeke, he had already lived out most of the memories that roamed freely through his mind, having spent it alongside the man he shared them with.
He sat alone, tossing the baseball at the wall across from him, the weight of loss heavy in his chest. He had never felt so lonely before, not when he’d just learned what it felt like to be wanted and not needed.
“So, you’re one of the new warriors.”
He shifted his focus to the boy standing at the entrance of the alleyway, squinting his eyes down at him.
“Yeah”. He muttered, shifting to stand up and dust his pants off.
“Which one did you get?”
He winced at how the kid asked the question, acting like he was asking him what candy he got at the store. Still, he wasn’t rude enough not to say anything to the kid.
“The Beast”.
“Oh, that makes sense”. Zeke cocked his eyebrow over at him in confusion. “That’s why you looked so sad. You got the lamest one”.
“Excuse me?”
“Honestly, out of all nine, I’d pick the female titan over the beast any day.”
“I think you should stop”. Zeke shook his head, turning away from the moronic kid.
“I didn’t mean to be rude.” The kid trailed behind him. “I just thought you might have been aware.”
“Look, kid- “
“My name is Eren”.
“I don’t care. Go home and leave me alone”.
“Don’t have one, so I’ll annoy you instead.”
Zeke paused, turning to stare back at the kid. “What do you mean ‘you don’t have one’?
“I can see why they chose you as the beast titan, not very bright, just like a monkey”.
“I can see why your parents might have abandoned you.”
“They actually died, but I guess it’s the same thing.”
Zeke internally winced, momentarily feeling bad despite what the kids, or Eren, had said.
“Where do you live?”
“You really think I’d tell an old creep like you?”
“I’m literally only eighteen.”
“And I’m only ten, so you’re ancient to me.” Eren scrutinized his face, but his façade shifted slightly. “I live on the streets. No one cares about an orphaned Eldian, after all.”
Honestly, Zeke had no idea why he was bothering with this brat, but for some unknown reason, he was rooted in place. This kid didn’t have a home to go to.
‘Surely, you can’t just leave him here. He’s just a kid.’
He winced, the thought not feeling like his own.
You’d be just as bad as one of those Marylean’s
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4 Years Later
“How long will you be gone for?”
“I'm not sure this time, Eren.” He ruffled his hair fondly, even when his hands were battered away. It depends on the situation that’s stopping the others from returning from the island.”
“Reiner’s a moron; he’s probably forgot where they parked the boat.”
“He’s not a moron, Eren.” He shrugged his bag over his shoulder, making his way to the front of the house. “Remember not to get yourself into any trouble while I’m gone.”
“Whatever”.
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The pain was almost excruciating; he never once imagined what it felt like to have most of his limbs cut off. His mouth ached from the blade that tore across it, causing the blood to splatter when he cried out in pain. If it hadn’t been for Pieck, he’d more than likely be dead.
Even with the warning from Reiner and Bertholdt, he gravely underestimated the enemy. How willing they had been to obtain victory
“All of you! Go kill him!”.
He glared back at Levi, seeing his blades drop in defeat. It was unbelievable to think a mere human could be capable of delivering that much damage; even with all of his training, he hadn’t been ready.
His weapons had to be all used up, and with that, they’d all be wiped out. They could still win, and they could still go home.
When they got to Reiner, just as he was about to be killed, he was barely in one piece, but they couldn’t save Bertholdt from being eaten by one of the devils. Having been dealt a significant blow, they returned with nothing to show for their actions.
Eren looked at him, his eyes unnerving when he returned home, but he remained silent.
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“Zeke,” Reiner sounded exhausted, but he was fully healed physically. Mentally, Zeke could see how tired he was. “Where’s Bertholdt?”
He shook his head, pushing his glasses further up his nose.
“This is all my fault. Why was I the only one to make it out?”
“We underestimated our enemy; it’s as simple as that”.
“I thought of them as friends at the time. But I killed so many of them”.
“Don’t beat yourself up too much. They earned their titles as devils after all.”
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He returned home, contemplating the course of action from here. Once word got out of how easily Paradis had taken out a portion of their warriors, they would be mocked.
Zeke picked up his bag from where he had left it, unpacking everything he’d taken. Eren hadn’t even come downstairs to greet him like usual, probably because he was ashamed of his failure.
He tipped out the remaining contents, picking apart the stale food packs to sit to the side. His attention suddenly shifted to the loud thud of a book that hadn’t been his own and fell to the table.
He eyed it warily, picking it up and thumbing along the green leather that coated the book. Frowning, he opened it, and a piece of paper immediately fell to the floor.
Except it wasn’t a piece of paper but a photograph, one that caused his breath to hitch. It was him, saddled on his mother’s lap with his father standing behind them, smiling as though they had been a happy, normal family.
Zeke wasn’t often rendered speechless, but this was one of those times when he couldn’t think of an explanation. He carefully set the photograph on the table, staring back at the easily recognizable scroll of his father’s handwriting.
The first few pages contained all of his father’s memories about his time on Marley, beginning with the death of his younger sister, Faye.
But when he flipped further in, the more he felt dread pool inside his stomach. Why had there been dates that surpassed his arrest and when he’d been sent to Paradis?
I’ve decided to settle down in Paradis, a place that differs significantly from Marley. While there is still crime and violence, I have never feared leaving my house with my wife.
Zeke’s head was pounding, a flurry of emotions toying with his head. His mother and father were alive this whole time and living on Paradis.
I have never felt safer, even with the titans that roam beyond the walls. It’s the perfect place for me to raise my son and start anew. I failed the first family I had, and there’s nothing I regret more, but it has shown me the importance of simply loving a child beyond your own desires.
He ended up thumbing through the next pages, electing to ignore Grisha's words about his other son on the island, whom he seemed to have raised with nothing but love.
Wait- That means somewhere back on the island, he had a brother among those devils.
I’ve begun to love my freedom beyond the shores of Marley, but I can no longer remain ignorant of what the truth really is about humanity. If I’m to achieve the ideal world of peace, it begins with the founding Titan. With it and my own, I can bring peace once and for all.
I know that we need to fight to keep our freedom, but I’ll have to leave the cage and free myself to achieve it. It’s the only way to protect my family and those I love dearly.
I will bring about the peace of Eldian;s after years of suffering from the hand of our oppressors, and should I fail, my son will not.