~EDITED~
Eren's POV:
I was shaken awake harshly, my body being flung off the small wooden frame of the bed I slept on, my eyes opening in shock as I rolled on the ground, bones digging into my sides as I cringed automatically in disgust.
"Wake up you maggot!"
I groaned, holding my head which smacked on the ground from my sudden tumble forward. I looked up and saw two guards, they were stiff and held swords near my neck, glaring down at me like I was a dangerous lion. I sighed, "Relax, I'm not going to suddenly magically be able to kill you" I muttered, sitting up and standing. I towered over the two guards, they looked up at me fearfully but still held their swords confidently. I felt a stab of pity for the two, they had been brought up to fear those who were different, born and raised into a world that didn't accept something that wasn't on the straight and narrow. It made me sick, these bastards controlled their people with the fear of death by something they don't know about, something they were never educated on. The absence of knowledge is the fear of a man.
"Oi brat, you going to stand gawking all day?" A voice snapped, I smirked and looked over at Levi, stretching and tilting my head as I looked at the short raven.
"I just might Sir" I said mockingly, he rolled his eyes and I was pushed forward, slamming into the bars on the cell harshly. I shook the dizziness away from my eyes and went to stand next to Levi; the two guards close behind. Levi clicked his tongue and walked forward, I noticed his eyes still darted around nervously. He seemed calmer then yesterday, but still looked fearful. What could have happened?
"You have an audience with the... Emperor" Levi said, his voice turning to a low growl at the word 'emperor' which made me frown. I stayed silent as new cuffs were clamped around my wrists and I was pushed, again, forward. We walked, I noticed Levi's presence alone was almost tangible, people moving to the sides of the hall as they made way for Levi and casting their eyes down in respect. Just how important was this short stack really? I noticed some people sneering and glaring at me, causing me to keep my eyes high and forward proudly, not once looking down as I ignored the looks of distain. We stopped at a set of large doors, the castle in itself was large and complex now that I actually looked: most the halls decked out in red cloth, long windows letting golden light filter into the place making it look heavenly, carpets of purple silk and tile made of glimmering marble.
"I'm sorry Eren"
The words shocked me out of my dazed look-see, making me snap over to Levi. His words were quiet, so quiet I wasn't sure they were said and I heard them correctly. He glanced back at me before the large doors seemingly opened on their own, I didn't have time to think about the words or the look before I was forced forward again, growling lowly as I was shoved around like a bad dog. Levi's shoulders tensed, arms crossing over his chest and breathing stopping the further he walked into the room. I looked up and saw the same man from yesterday, the Emperor. His golden mask shimmered in the light of the morning sun, various fruits being handed to him or even placed directly to his mask.
Lazy bastard.
Hatred whipped through me, seeing the man who directed the attack on my home, the man who left me in that disgusting cell, the man who put these horribly tight cuffs around my wrists, the man who threatened my homes very existence. I silently vowed to be the one who sliced his miserably greedy heart in half. My eyes stared at his, waiting for the moment he looked at me.
My thoughts of Levi lost, I walked forward on my own accord and silently tried to pull the cuffs apart, suddenly screaming loudly as the cuffs gave me a strong electronic shock that made my bones rattle and muscles tense, gasping for air as I lowered my head in the pain I was not expecting.
Since when was that a thing?
"Ah, it looks like our lovely prisoner found out what happens if he tries to escape" A leisurely voice said, I looked up at the man on the throne angrily, seeing him pick up a red strawberry and bringing it to a small opening on his mask, some red juice trailing down the golden frame around his face as the fruit disappeared. "Ah, good to see you Levi" The blonde spoke again, his ice eyes traveling to the small raven a few steps away from me. Levi's eyes were to the ground, he nodded in acknowledgment but did nothing else, making me frown in worry. He was a lot different than yesterday, what had changed?
"What do you want" I finally snapped, the blonde sighed and looked over at me irritably, like I was in his way or interrupting him or something pathetic that he would get irritated about.
"You should show more respect to an Emperor" He snapped back, shifting so he sat straight in the large throne his spoiled ass was seated in.
I scoffed, "Then I can say the same to you"
His eye twitched and he snapped his fingers, pointing to me. I narrowed my eyes when he was handed a small black remote, hearing Levi take in a sharp breath at the action but doing nothing more. The Emperor stood, his tall frame shadowing almost everyone else in the room. He walked down the steps of his throne slowly, keeping his cool eyes on me the whole time. I raised my jaw and glared back at him, my arms still tingling. He finally stood in front of me, glaring down at me and titling his head, holding the remote, his thumb tracing the button on it carefully. "Kneel you maggot" he suddenly barked, his voice as cold as his gaze.
I smirked, "Take your own advice you laz-" I didn't get to finish when the blonde held up the remote, pressing a button on it and causing me to gasp and scream out loudly, managing to stay on my feet until the electricity stopped flowing out of the cuffs, slithering through my body and veins carefully.
"Well, a tough boy are we?" He snarled in front of me, I gasped for air but stood as straight as I could, my back slightly hunched but my head high as I glared right back at the Emperor. "My name is Erwin, now that I have given you the joy of knowing my name, do me the pleasure and tell me yours" Erwin said smoothly, stalking around me with his hands behind his back, my senses crawling with alarm. I shot my gaze over to Levi, who was watching the scene intensely. His eyes locked with mine, he didn't tell Erwin my name. Levi's eyes widened slightly in realization, almost pleading with me not to say anything. My eyes narrowed, why should I save his small ass? Actually his ass was quite large for how small he was. I bit my lip hard, shaking the obnoxious thought from my mind, smirking to myself, let's see how loyal Levi was to his Emperor.
"My name is Jean, King Jean from the Barefaced empire" I spoke clearly, my voice ringing with pride and showing no signs of a lie, smirking slightly as I thought about what Jean's reaction would be to my proclamation. Levi's eyes widened, his confused gaze soon turned to an angry one, obviously knowing I was testing him. To my surprise he looked away, his arms folding tighter in front of him as his fists clenched.
"Ah a fine name for such a King as yourself" Erwin praised mockingly, walking in front of me again, raising one of his hands to my chin and forcing me to look up at him.
"Such a beautiful name..." He spoke quietly. My eyes widened in shock and horror. He was, hitting on me?!
I saw Levi take a step forward from the corner of my eye, Erwin's fingers running over my cheek and down my neck, causing me to step back from him, my mouth set in a grimace as Erwin's slimy hands touched me. "Get the fuck off me you pervert" I snarled, not trying to pry my hands apart for fear of the electricity. Erwin let out a sound that was a cross between a laugh and a scoff, to me it sounded like a dragon trying to laugh merrily. Electric shocks shot up my arms again, this time strong enough to force me on one knee as I gritted my teeth in pain, screams escaping my mouth the longer I sat there. My vision shook as I tried to keep my head high, only failing as my head lowered, my arms stiff with pain.
"Stop!"