An: I just want to say Arlen is NOT another love interest. Eren is too in love with Mizuki to even notice Arlen. Also I hate love triangles so I wouldn't do that
"Come on, one more time." Arlen encouraged Eren who was hunched up with his hands pressing against his knees and deep breaths leaving him.
"I'm tired." Eren whined as he straightened his position and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
When Eren had agreed to train with Arlen he truly didn't realize how gruesome it was going to be. But here they were two weeks after and Eren still wasn't used to it. They had now been at the training room for three hours and Eren was ready to call it a day.
"Just try to get one punch in on me and I'll let you go." Arlen bargained and Eren nodded with a sigh and then they got into position once again.
They circled each other and Eren moved towards Arlen with his arm raised but Arlen dodged and swiftly moved aside.
"Come on, you can do better than that." Arlen taunted and Eren glared at him.
Eren charged towards him once again but this time he didn't let Arlen dodge and before the taller man could even think of a way to get around this attack Eren's fist met with his face, a little harder then necessary.
"Ow! That was mean of you." Arlen exclaimed as he rubbed his sore cheek.
"That's what you get for torturing me." Eren muttered and then he turned around and walked towards where he had left his water bottle.
He grabbed it and started drinking from it, feeling Arlen's eyes boring into him and he frowned.
Arlen was...weird.
He was a very good trainer but other than that he had a habit of staring at Eren when he thought he couldn't notice and if Eren wasn't so busy thinking about other things then he would have figured out that there was something behind those stares.
But all Eren could think about these days was his fight and Mizuki.
Mizuki.
His heart clenched at the thought of Mizuki. He really fucking missed his prince. The thought of the man that was on the other side of the border filled Eren with the need to simply forget everything and go to him.
His nights were plagued with nightmares and screams of terror with no one to come and comfort him. The only thing that would help Eren stop crying when those moments would come were the reminder of Mizuki's soft breath against his ear as he used to reassure him that everything was fine and that he wasn't alone and that it was never his fault.
Sometimes he wished they had never left the middle ground. That they stayed at that little house by the border and spent their days together, soaking in each other's presence.
But they couldn't and now here he was. Away from his love.
"Eren?"
Eren was startled by the sudden voice and he turned around to face Arlen. He had forgotten where he was for a second. "Yes?"
"Are you alright?" He asked, slowly walking towards Eren.
"I'm fine." Eren said. "Can I go now?"
"Uhh." Arlen shifted on his feet and rubbed the back of his neck. "Do you wanna hang out for a bit?"
"Why?" Eren asked.
"I-I was just going to go to the marketplace and I figured maybe you would want to come with me?" He asked hopefully and Eren stared at him.
"No." He finally answered and the disappointment that flashed through Arlen's face made him feel a bit guilty but he just couldn't bring himself to go to the marketplace where he knew he would get stared at by everyone.
"I have something to do. Sorry." He added to make it a bit better.
"Oh yeah, of course you must be busy." Arlen said with an awkward chuckle.
"But before you go, you must choose a weapon you'll be using in the fight." Arlen said, suddenly more serious. "There's no gun allowed but you can choose anything else."
Eren thought about it and his first thought was to choose his bow and arrow. But then he realized that it might not be that practical if Aslan was expecting it and it will be a disadvantage rather then a advantage.
"I want a dagger." He finally settled.
"Oh?" Arlen asked with a raised eyebrow. "I thought you hated them."
"Not anymore." Eren murmured as he thought back to the time where Mizuki showed him all the tricks he had learned with his own dagger. Eren remembered watching him with a small hidden smile as Mizuki went on and on about how much he loved his knives and daggers.
"Alright." Arlen said. "Tomorrow we will start training with the dagger but try not to stab me."
"No promises." Eren replied and Arlen laughed.
"I'm going now." He waved and Eren nodded at him and after a few minutes he grabbed his own things before leaving the room.
"Done with your stupid little training?"
Eren stopped in his tracks and closed his eyes in exasperation.
"What do you want?" Eren asked as he turned around to face his brother.
"I want to know what the fuck you did to Arlen to make him act like a jackass and train with you." Aslan sneered and Eren chuckled in amusement.
"I didn't do shit. I think your best friend finally realized what kind of person you are and decided to help me since he wouldn't want an idiot like you to be the king." Eren answered and Aslan's expression shifted into a dangerous glare as he approached Eren.
"I don't know what the fuck happened to you when you were gone but you better stop running your fucking mouth before I kill you." He hissed and Eren only raised his head and stared at Aslan with a challenging glint in his eyes.
"You can try, little brother but we'll see who'll be the dead one soon enough." He said and with that he turned around and continued to make his way back to the castle.
Eren was about to turn the corner to go down the path that led to the castle when suddenly he saw a familiar tree and he stopped walking.
His chest constricted with panic but then Mizuki's bright smile flashed through his mind and he let out a shaky breath before remembering the tender words his love had told him.
I don't want you to remember that memory with pain. I-I can't speak for Elias or anything but I'm sure that day with you was a wonderful day for him. You told me you helped him from bullies and spoke up for him. You probably made him feel as though he was worth helping. You accepting his request and playing the violin for him and even accepting the flower must have made his whole day, or even his whole week so much better.
It's not your fault, never your fault.
"Not my fault." Eren whispered as he slowly walked towards the tree and then he dropped his things next to the tree and let himself sink down next to it.
His eyes strayed towards the flowers sticking out from the grass and he plucked one out.
The tree was situated over a small hill and Eren could clearly see the busy streets from above. His eyes ran over the men who were working at the shops and then the women who were walking with their heads down and holding either their husband's arm or their children's hand.
A frown settled on his face as he thought of the difference between the woman here and the women back in Yarisha. He wished that one day the women here wouldn't feel afraid to state their opinion and walk with their heads held high.
He couldn't wait until they wouldn't need anyone to protect them because they would be able to do it themselves.
Eren decided that he was not going to lose at any cost. He was going to do this. He was going to win the fight against Aslan and bring freedom to these people.
He was going to make Mizuki proud. Mizuki believed that he was strong and that he could do anything. If Mizuki believed in him then he would believe in himself.
And then maybe... maybe he'd be able to find Mizuki and they could be together again.
They could love each other without being afraid. They could make history and not let the past repeat itself.
Hello!
Thoughts?
This chapter was probably a bit boring but oh well. Next chapter we're going back to Mizuki!! I missed him :(
-till next time <3