Carla's departure left the little house simmering, and the children stopped pretending.
Eren snatched up a dry stick like a samurai and planted himself between Mikasa and Zeke. "You pervert! Don't even think about getting close to us while Mom's away!"
Mikasa stood behind him, small and quiet, but her eyes told another story—murderous, glinting like sharpened steel.
She didn't need to speak. If you touch Eren, you die.
Zeke's side bristled in response.
"Don't call the captain a pervert!" Annie and Bertolt raised their anti-Titan guns—empty, but no one could tell at a glance. Reiner, tense and sweating, drew his blade with a scrape of steel.
Ani: "?"
Bertolt: "?"
A traitor already?
The air crackled. Zeke stared at the scene, head spinning. These brats are ridiculous. How old are they? Twelve? Thirteen? And they're already flashing blades and guns like cutthroats in a back alley. If I don't stop this, someone's going to end up bleeding on the floor before dinner!
But before Zeke could intervene, the tension snapped in the most unexpected way.
"Whoa! Is that a real Survey Corps sword?" Eren's eyes lit up like stars, glued to Reiner's blade.
Zeke: "Huh???"
Reiner faltered, thrown off by the sudden shift, but nodded stiffly. "Y-yeah."
Eren darted forward, practically bouncing. "How'd you get it?!"
"I… picked it up," Reiner muttered, trying not to choke on the guilt tightening in his chest.
What the hell?
Zeke thought. Friendships flip that fast? One second they're ready to murder each other, the next it's autograph hour? Am I the only sane one here?
"Where'd you pick it up?" Eren pressed, nearly grabbing for the hilt.
Reiner swallowed hard. "An arm… fell into my lap. Then I… picked it up." His fingers whitened on the blade, the memory of that soldier's sacrifice tearing through him.
Idiot. Do you even know who you're protecting?
But Eren only gasped in awe. "Amazing! Where do you even find an arm? I want one too!"
"Outside the wall."
That phrase sliced the air open.
Mikasa froze, then surged forward, yanking Eren back by the collar. "Outside the wall?" Her voice was low, dangerous.
Reiner blinked, stupidly honest. "…Yeah."
"Amazing!" Eren twisted in her grip, wild with envy. "You've been outside? How? Can kids go too—"
Her fist dropped like a hammer.
"!" Zeke nearly swallowed his tongue. She hit him? She actually hit Eren? My brother? This—this is history in the making!
"Don't talk about leaving the walls!" Mikasa's voice thundered, dragging him upright again by the shirt.
"But—"
"Don't even think about it!" Her eyes burned into him. "You're the only son my uncle and aunt have. I won't let you throw your life away and make them grieve!"
"But staying trapped here forever, doing nothing—it's just like being livestock!" Eren spat back, red-faced.
Her knuckles cracked against him again, flattening him on the floorboards. "You can't even beat me, Eren! You think you can fight Titans? Forget it! You're not joining the Survey Corps!"
She wheeled on Reiner next, glare sharp enough to peel the skin off his bones.
His heart nearly exploded.
"Don't mention the outside again."
"Yes, ma'am!" Reiner squeaked, shoving the knife away so fast he almost dropped it.
Eren groaned, pressing his bruised face into the wood, but still defiant. "Don't be so smug! Dad says boys are stronger than girls. When I grow up, I'll beat you!"
Zeke rubbed his forehead, watching the chaos unfold. Brother… when she grows up, she won't just beat you. She'll take your head clean off.
Across the room, Annie finally lowered her empty gun and muttered, "This family is insane."
Bertolt gave a tiny nod, whispering, "At least no one's dead yet."
Zeke slumped into a chair, exhausted already. Babysitting these kids was more dangerous than any mission in Marley.