Reluctant Heroes (Jean x Reader x Eren) CHAPTER 3

“Alright, hoist me up!”

Jean offered you a mock salute and leaned down to turn the crank. He kept a close eye on you as your feet lifted from the ground, the wires that suspended your tensed body creaking slightly from the strain. He had already passed the test with flying colours, and now it was your turn to show them all what you were made of.

You gritted your teeth as you wobbled slightly, but managed to keep your balance. This isn’t so bad! you thought, relaxing a little and letting a small smile cross your face. You risked a sidelong glance at Jean, ready to share your victory with your friend, but his eyes were directed elsewhere. Your smile dropped as you followed his admiring gaze down the line of precariously balanced cadets to a certain black-haired girl.

Mikasa was as steady as a rock, her newly cut hair fluttering lightly in the breeze created by her almost imperceptible movements, a faraway look in her unreadable eyes. The instructors were looking on appreciatively, muttering amongst themselves and nodding approvingly.

“Show off,” you muttered, scrabbling desperately to keep yourself upright as your concentration slipped momentarily.

There was a snort of laughter from Jean, and at first you thought he was laughing at you. You rounded on him, completely prepared to kick him in that smug horse face of his, but as you turned, you were met with the most bizarre sight.

Eren Jaeger, Mr. “I’m-gonna-kill-all-the-titans” was hanging upside down from his manoeuvre gear, swinging helplessly in the wind and looking somewhat dazed at the unexpected turn of events. His face was growing steadily redder as the blood rushed to his head. The laughing crowd surrounding him was not helping with the matter in the slightest. It was such a ridiculous sight that you simply could not help it.

You laughed. Hard.

And in doing so, your concentration shattered and with a start, you felt yourself tumbling backwards toward the hard, dusty ground. Your laugh was cut short with a small yelp and you closed your eyes, awaiting impact. But it never came.

“Woah, there.”

You felt a pair of lean arms surrounding you, supporting you, and you opened our eyes to find yourself face to face with Jean. He gave you a dazzling smile and for a moment you were stricken with the realisation of just how handsome he had become.

“You okay?” he asked and when you didn’t reply, a light of concern entered his eyes. “I wasn’t too late was I?” He smirked. “Twelve years too late, maybe? I always wondered if you’d been dropped as a child. It certainly would explain a l-”

You pulled yourself out of your daze and shoved him away from you, finding your balance once more. You looked around quickly to make sure Shadis had not seen it and you breathed a sigh of relief when you saw him shouting at Eren, his back turned to you. You turned to Jean.

“Jerk,” you growled, but there was a hint of a smile in your voice and you knew he could sense it.

“Hey, that’s no way to talk to the guy who just saved your life,” he said, that cocky grin still fixed on his face.

You snorted. “My brave prince, thank you ever so much for saving me from imminent death. However can I repay you?” You looked at him meaningfully and rolled your eyes. His infuriating grin only widened.

“Just give me half your dinner tonight and we’ll call it even.”

“Not a chance,” you scoffed. “Now let me down before I end up like Jaeger over there.”




As it turned out, Jean ended up taking half your dinner anyway. One look at the thick, lumpy gruel in your bowl was enough to banish your appetite completely. You nibbled absently on your bread roll, your eyes roaming the dining hall.

Dinner seemed quieter than usual, perhaps due to the slowly dwindling numbers of cadets as more and more found the rigors of training too much for them. But that wasn’t what struck you as odd. Something seemed wrong somehow, yet at first glance nothing seemed out of place. But you could hear the whispers…

“Hey, isn’t that the kid from yesterday who said he’d kill all the titans?”

“Yeah, I bet he’ll be off to the frontier tomorrow. We don’t have enough food to feed worthless rejects.”

It was then that you locked eyes with Eren across the room and it clicked. He had been strangely subdued tonight, no doubt thanks to his failure earlier that day. His usual energy seemed to have petered out, leaving the hall strangely peaceful. He broke eye contact quickly and glanced away, a blush forming on his cheeks. You wondered how it must feel to have the most important thing taken away from you in such a short amount of time – his reason to live, his chance at revenge, at justice.

You were pulled out of your musings by the clearing of a throat and you looked up to meet those same sea green eyes up close this time. You were surprised to see that the spark had not left them, rather it seemed to have intensified, his pleading gaze boring into yours. He looked between you and Jean, appearing to be battling with himself. Finally, he spoke and you could tell from his tone that he did so with reluctance.

“I need your help,” he said softly.

Jean laughed harshly. “The great and mighty Jaeger is asking us for help? Actually, I’d like you to tell me how you’re still sane after humiliating yourself like that. You almost gave [Name] a concussion, she laughed so hard!”

“Jean!” you cried, blushing furiously, but he only laughed.

Eren gave you a despairing look. “Guys, I’m begging you here...”

“Weren't you saying just yesterday that those who aren’t strong enough should leave? I did hear him right, didn’t I [Name]?” Jean was really laying it on thick, a ridiculous smirk plastered across his face.

You offered Eren and apologetic look but he shook his head. “I should never have expected help from you.” Before you could say another word, he turned and left without a backward glance.

“Hey, wait!” you called out to his retreating back, but he ignored you.

Jean raised an eyebrow at you. “You’re not actually planning on helping him, are you? The kid’s suicidal; we’re doing him a favour.”

“Oh… I suppose…”

You knew deep down that if Eren left, there would be less competition which could only work in your favour. And not only that, but Mikasa would likely leave too. The girl followed Eren around like a lost puppy after all and you would be glad to not have to compete with her.

But somehow you felt you would come to miss those green eyes and secretly you hoped he would succeed tomorrow.

And you hoped you would not come to regret that feeling.



>>> Chapter 2
>>> Chapter 4