"A-am I doing it right, Eren?"

"No. You have to hold it steady, and you're shaking too much, relax will you?"

"S-sorry. . ."

Armin huffed, and willed himself to relax, tense muscles going lax as he held the handgun firmly in his hands. His eyes locked onto one of the snarling, several titans Eren had somehow managed to affix against dead, and dried trees. They struggled against their restraints, their hungry, and emotionless gazes locked soley on him and Eren. While they could've used bottles as targets, Eren thought it was best to use the titans.

Beside him, Eren had his arms crossed and hip jutted out as he waited patiently for Armin to fire, his calm green eyes on the blonde.

They had been practicing for a while now after finding a good spot with much space to roam around in. First, Eren had explained everything he needed to know from parts of the gun and how to wield one. Then the brunette spent the next few minutes instructing Armin and helping him through it, correcting him on his mistakes. He was calm and patient, answering every question and for that, Armin was thankful.

At first he had been a nervous wreck since he has never used a weapon in his entire life, always having someone protect him from the outside world. But it felt strange to him. He was holding something--- a weapon--- that could kill. The thought of ending someone's life had him shaking again.

"They won't always be there for you," Eren had said. "You need to learn to fend for yourself if you want to survive in this cruel world. There will be a time where titans won't be the only ones you'll be using that gun on. Someday, someone else will be needing your protection too, Armin."

Of course, Armin wasn't stupid but Eren's words had him thinking about his friends back home. How the others always protected him and saved him from being eaten alive on one of their trips. He thought about the friends he had lost over the years and how powerless he had been to save them. Their dead and lifeless eyes haunting him till this day.

He gulped.

Truth be told, Armin was terrified.

He was terrified of losing more people. He wasn't like the big, and strong alphas back home. He was just a weak and scrawny little beta boy who always ran from his problems and for years he's had to endure others calling him out on it. Calling him useless and titan bait. Even though Armin knew it was the truth, the words still stung.

But then Eren came along and changed that for him.

Eren was fast and strong, smart and beautiful, helpful and kind; Something Armin greatly admired.

Armin eyes trailed the multiple bullet wounds on the growling titan he had been previously aiming at.

"Aim for the neck. Shooting the head will slow them down but it won't effectively kill them. The nape is your target."

He let out a sigh, gripped the gun tightly and raised his arms slightly, aiming for the neck, just a few inches above the collarbone. It was difficult with the titan writhing and squirming around but once he managed to get a perfect opening, without thinking, he pulled the trigger.

The gun in his hand recoiled, and a shot rang through the air around them. He glanced up, eyes widening in surprise when they landed on the limp and obviously dead titan against the tree. Slowly, a excited smile broke out onto his face and he spun around to Eren who was smirking.

"I did it! I did it! Did you see, Eren?! I actually killed it!!" He laughed.

Eren nodded. "Good job, Armin. You're doing great."

The praise from Eren made him blush but a sudden new feeling had him whirling around and raising the gun again, blue eyes sparkling in determination as he aimed at the next titan.

Two shots rang through the air following along with two more dead titans. As he was getting ready to aim for the next titan, Eren's movement caught his eye and he turned his head to see Eren striding towards the rest of the titans.

Confused, Armin furrowed his brows. "Eh? Eren, what are you doing?" He asked. Apprehension began to settle in his gut as he watched Eren stop behind the one of the titans and slowly draw his sword from over his shoulder.

His eyes widened in realization.

"No! W-wait--!"

Eren swung his arm, slicing at the restraints holding the titans back, and one by one the snarling titans were set free and began to head in Armin's direction, teeth clamping in hunger and attention locked on him.

Armin took a shaky step back and began to panic, eyes wide in fear. His heart was racing in his chest and his eyes were darting back and fourth to the six hungry titans. "Eren!" He shouted in a plea, voice cracking as he was frozen in his spot from terror.

Eren emerged from the trees and crossed his arms, his expression devoid of any emotion. "You are not weak, Armin." He said loud and clear, making no move to help Armin in any way.

Sweat dripped down the side of his face as Armin trembled in his spot. The titans were getting closer and closer, reaching their bony hands out for him.

Move! A voice screamed at him in his head.

Shakily, he quickly raised his gun and began firing at the closest titan, though he was trembling too much and that caused him to aim for the titans legs and arms. The bullets didn't deter the titan as it kept heading for him, dragging it's feet across the ground and growling loudly. It was several feet away now and Armin knew if he didn't act quick, he was going to get torn apart soon.

Are you going to run away? Eren's voice taunted him in his mind.

Familiar lifeless, dead eyes flashed before his eyes and he grit his teeth, the sudden new feeling from before returning all at once but with more force.

Clutching at the gun, Armin straightened up, his sharp, and hard gaze locked on the titan as he raised the gun and pulled the trigger. The bullet hit the titan's throat and he watched in satisfaction as it dropped to the floor.

Moving onto the next one, he started firing at each titan, watching as they slumped to the floor after having their rottened throat's blasted out.

Just then, unexpectedly, he was knocked to the ground with great force. He cried out as his back roughly hit the dirt, knocking the air out of his lungs and a titan was on him, snarling and clamping it's teeth at him as he tried to push it off him but to no avail. It was larger and heavier, pressing it's weight down as it tried to take a large chunk out of him with it's teeth.

Being the small male he is, Armin struggled furiously, heart nearly stopping each time it got closer to his face. He shouted in panic, "Eren! H-help me! I-I can't get it off!!"

Somewhere above him, Eren's stern voice replied, "Yes you can, Armin. You can do this."

His muscles were starting to strain from the effort it took to hold the titan up so that it wouldn't manage to bite him. His struggles were getting weaker and weaker until--

With a cry and sudden new found strength, Armin pushed at the titan's chest, successfully shoving it off of him. He rolled onto his side and was quick to pull out his dagger and lung at the titan just as it made a move to stand. He brought the blade down on the struggling titan's neck, dragging it sideways and cutting the head clean off. He ignored the blood that splattered all over his face and clothes as he panted for air.

He brushed his hair away from his face with a shaky hand and jumped when another hand landed on his shoulder. He looked up and met Eren's approving emerald eyes. Eren softly smiled down at him.

"You did well, Armin. See? You had it in you. You just had to see it for yourself. You're not as weak as you think you are. Armin, you are strong and brave." Eren said. There was true meaning in his words and Armin felt his eyes began to sting, his sight getting blurry. He felt the tears before they rolled down his cheeks.

He threw himself at Eren, nearly knocking the shocked brunette to the ground. He wrapped his arms around him and cried into his shirt, "th-thank y-you...." He whispered.

There was a pat on his head, and then Eren began to stroke his hair, a small smile on his face. "You're welcome, Armin."

                               ~◈~

"So were you actually going to let the titans eat me?"

"Yup."

"What?!?!" Armin cried, snapping his head towards Eren who ignored his outburst.

"Eren!" Armin whined, trudging alongside him in the heat. He was exhausted as hell from all the practicing and very sweaty. His clothes were practically clinging to his body as they began to head back.

Eren was ignoring the blonde beside him when distant, hysterical laughter caught his full attention. Immediately he tensed up and froze in his tracks, eyes narrowing as they darted around his surroundings. Armin must've noticed something else was wrong too because he paused in his steps, nervously searching around.

He found his feet moving on their own, following the laughter as he paid no mind to Armin's hiss of his name. He was cautious and light on his feet as he headed down the road, the complete opposite direction he was supposed to be heading in.

Down the cracked and broken highway was a small, dilapidated building covered in dried vines--- possibly a gas station from before. It looked to be abandoned and on the verge of collapsing anytime soon under the sun.

As he drew closer and closer, the laughter continued but only got louder and it was coming from behind the building. He crouched down behind a wall, hidden from view with Armin following close behind him in silence.

He peeked his head out, and the sight before him made his blood boil in fury, his fists clenching and twitching with the urge to harm.

At least four people dressed in black surrounded a whimpering, and severely injured wolf, but it wasn't just any average wolf. This one was extremely large, with sleek, perfect black fur that that had the sun reflecting off of it. It lay on the deserted ground, blood pooling beneath it as it would growl each time someone jabbed at it with their spears or knives.

Eren grit his teeth in anger as they laughed, mocking the poor woof. One of them, an alpha female, spoke.

"How long do ya' think 'till it dies, eh vert?" She snickered, kicking at the helpless animal.

One of the males--vert-- shrugged and crouched down beside the wounded wolf, swiping out his knife that glinted under the bright sunlight. "I don't care how long it takes to die, I'm hungry." He huffed and just as he inched the knife closer, Eren chose that moment to step out from behind the wall.

"Eren!" Armin tried to reach for him but jumped back when four pairs of eyes snapped to the omega. He could only watch as their eyes flashed with carnal interest, looking Eren up and down.

The female was the first to step forward, a large ugly grin on her face while her dark eyes held no good intentions. "What's a pretty thing like you doing here, huh?" She smirked.

Eren growled. Fucking looters, he thought in ire. Just by their clothes and behavior alone he could tell they were from those disgusting cannibal groups somewhere nearby. Now he was never one to attack first unless he knew they were a real threat to him but when it came to torturing helpless animals, it made him seethe in rage.

"Hey, vert! Whadda ya' think of this one?" She called over her shoulder, taking her eyes off Eren.

Big mistake.

The next second a sword pierced straight through her stomach, ripping a pained screech from her throat as Eren pulled his sword back and kicked her carelessly to the ground.

Immediately everyone else was drawing their weapons as soon as they saw their companion hurt but weren't quick enough as two of the three shocked guys had their heads sliced clean off before they could even pull the trigger on their guns. Blood spurted out from their bodies as they slumped to the ground.

Eren stood over the two bodies, both swords drawn and blades dripping with crimson blood. His cold, narrowed and bright green eyes snapped up to lock with the last guy's own furious eyes.

Vert snarled and pointed his gun straight at a unmoving and unfazed Eren. "You fucker! I'll kill you, you fucking piece of shit!!" He roared and shot twice.

Easily, Eren was fast to raise his blades to block the bullets aiming his way, a loud clang! resounding in the air as they made contact with the hard steel of his blades. Afterwards, he charged straight for him, his feet pushing off the ground and when he was close enough he swung both his katanas outwards--- slicing through his stomach and neck and watching as vert's body was slashed brutally into thirds. Blood sprayed the walls and floors like paint as the cut up dead man tumbled down.

Eren wasted no time in stepping over the body to get to the injured wolf. He got to his knees, uncaring if he got dirty at all, his brows furrowing in concern as his gaze traveled over the animal's weak form. The wounds were deep as more thick blood poured from them relentlessly.

Hastily, Eren grabbed his little bag and pulled out his aid kit. He softly cooed at the animal when it whimpered in pain as he dabbed at the wounds with his soaked rag. He didn't have the necessary items to patch up the wolf completely but he knew that if he made it back at the 104th building in time, the wolf would likely survive. It was already losing too much blood and Eren was fiercely determined to get it help as soon as he can.

Armin approached him from behind, wide blue eyes looking over the wolf in amazement and curiosity before looking towards Eren. He swallowed and asked in uncertainty. "How are we gonna get it back home?"

Eren didn't reply, as he sheathed his swords that he had placed by his side, putting up everything else and standing up. He then squatted down beside the nearly unconscious wolf and slid both his arms under it's belly, and with all the strength he had, lifted it, his muscles straining under the powerful weight as he managed to maneuver it onto his shoulder. Once it was over his shoulder, he let out a huff through clenched teeth, panting with exertion.

The weight added onto his back and shoulders was making it hard for him to move with the nearly twice his size wolf. It was very large and heavy that he had to fight the urge to just drop the animal.

"Eren!" Armin said in worry. "You'll end up hurting yourself! Here let me--"

"No." Eren hissed and Armin froze. "I...." He panted. "C-can do it.....we just need to hurry before I collapse under this weight."

Reluctantly, Armin nodded and sighed. "O-okay......let's go." He threw Eren a concerned glance before walking forward.

                               ~◈~

People stared, astonished and amazed as Eren walked through the gates with the large, unconscious and very rare wolf over his shoulder. In their eyes, it looked like Eren barely had to put any effort but to Eren, his muscles burned and tightened with each step he took, his body fighting to carry the added 200 pound weight so that it wouldn't crush his small body completely.

Once he was in the building, he caught the attention of Reiner nearby and the alpha was quick to hurry over to his side.

"Eren! What the hell---? let me help you." He said, not questioning the reason of why Eren brought back a wolf and when Eren gave a grateful nod, he lifted the wolf off of him, transfering it into his own arms easily.

Eren collapsed onto his knees in exhaustion, breathing heavily and his clothes soaked in sweat that it clung to his voluptuous form. His cheeks were flushed a dark red and sweat trailed down the side of his face and slender, smooth neck, slipping under his oversized shirt.

"It's.....injured..... get it.....help." He struggled to say through each breath. Surprisingly, Reiner understood and stalked off, shouting out someone's name and disappearing up stairs.

Armin dropped down beside him, and began to rub his back soothingly. It helped somewhat but Eren was so tired and his muscles felt stiff and sore from all the energy he had spent trying to carry that hulk of a wolf back here in more than five miles and in the extreme heat.

When footsteps approached them, Eren casted his eyes up and met cold silver-blue ones. The strange alpha from before.

"Are you seriously bringing that mutt in here?" Levi crossed his arms, disbelief in his eyes, and he glared down at him. His voice deep and smooth.

Eren grit his teeth and forced himself to stand with the help of Armin by his side. He stared at the man and said,

"You're here, aren't you?"

Then he walked away, arm wrapped around Armin's shoulder for support so that he wouldn't lose his balance and collapse again. He didn't care to stay and see or hear Levi's reaction and response.

Right now, he needed sleep.