Mikhail didn’t want to do this. Not at this time, not in this way, not in this place. But a dead squad leader behind him, the retreating backs of his squad-mates in front, and 2-meter class titans closing on him in the town’s alleyway forced his hand.
With a simple flick of his finger, flesh gave way to steel, blood spilled, and the world exploded into steam.
Skull-gaunt and grey-skinned, he towered over the earlier pursuing titans, the slightest flex of his limbs sent the brick buildings on either side of him crumbling. His hands bunched into fists, arms and legs smoothly shifting into a stance that was trained into him far earlier and far longer than his days in squad 11.
Calculated strikes and learned tactics made short work of the typical titans that attacked. But when the deviant types began to hone in on him, things started to take a turn for the worst.
One particular deviant, a massive brute that mowed down scores of titans with frightening ease, charged towards him. Mikhail knew he would be no match for it. His pride urged him to stand his ground but his mission objectives already had him turning tail to flee.
Let that be someone else’s problem. He had more important things to do. Like survive.
The echo of heavy footfalls reached his ears and the ground rushed up to embrace him. A heavy weight was on his back, pinning him down. Though he struggled, he couldn’t find the leverage to free himself. Then pain exploded at the base of his neck when the flesh shielding his vulnerable human form was torn away.
Mikhail opened his eyes to heat, steam, disorientation, and a feminine voice growling: “What’d I say about keeping your head down, rookie?”
I had almost given up looking for an artist willing to draw Titan!Form Darkcaster but BigBerd opened for commissions (he still is so go and commission him) and I jumped at the chance. Hime, I hope you likes as much as I enjoyed our SnK ramblings <3
Rounds were over, inspections were finished, all that was left was for her to sign off duty before-
“Chhhhhhharmaiiiiiiine,” slurred her superior officer’s voice as the stink of alcohol and cigar smoke invaded the hallway.
The platinum blonde MP saluted into attention and barked out, “Sir.”
“At ease,” the officer waved a hand dismissively at her. “The fresh meat’s arriving in a bit, be a dear and brief them for me. The strategy meeting’s running a little longer than expected.” He leaned against the door frame, no attempt to hide the other officers inside, or the playing cards, piles of coins, and several empty bottles of wine strewn all over their table.
Maintaining a carefully neutral expression, her amethyst eyes fixed on her superior officer’s forehead, she answered, “Understood, Sir.”
“Good. Dismissed,” and the man slammed the door in her face.
Standing outside longer than proper, she managed to make out the muffled jeering and laughter as the officers resumed their game. One day, she swore to herself before marching off to meet the latest batch of MP rookies.
The squad of ten was waiting for her in the courtyard and for several wordless minutes, she simply studied them.
A mixed bag, she decided. A rare few had the hallmark of true believers; naive and enthusiastic and genuine in their desire to serve the king. Some had the marks of career soliders; all arrogance and pride for being the best of their batch of trainees and seeking to further rise in rank. Most were there because they wanted to be as far away from the danger as possible.
She was looking forward to watching the system break them all.
“I’m Charmaine,” she finally introduced, donning the mask of aloof professionalism. “Welcome to the Military Police where you will be safe from titans but not from your fellow men. Keep your head down and don’t make waves. No one really cares how good you think you are. And while no one likes an ass-kisser, if you’re subtle about it you’re looking at a brighter future. Or at least an easier time.”
It wasn’t the approved spiel the trainees were supposed to get but the platinum blonde MP was feeling spiteful of the senior officers. She wasn’t giving the rookies the heads up because she cared about them. But this way, she had ten people who ought to be grateful to her. And in the Military Police, every advantage counts.
She dismissed them and was about to walk off when one of the rookies, a tall, blond young man approached her.
“Squad Leader Charmaine,” he began respectfully and it was all she could do not to burst out laughing.
Instead she gave him a smirk, “Ma'am will do,” even if she didn’t hold a position that would warrant the title. “What is it, rookie?”
“My name’s Mikhail, Ma'am,” he introduced, smiling warmly “And I just wanted to say thank you.”
She quirked a brow in suspicion, “For what?”
The blue of Mikhail’s eyes glinted cold, briefly, before the gleam of idealistic naivete returned, “For the advice. And my mother taught me to always be polite to ladies.”
“No ladies here, rookie,” Charmaine snorted none too delicately. “We’re either soldiers or officers.”
“Of course, Ma'am,” he saluted, radiating earnest desire to prove himself.
And if Charmaine hadn’t glimpsed the earlier sharpness of his eyes, she would have believed the sentiment was genuine.
My actual SnK ships are: Springles (SashaxConnie), Yumikuri (YmirxKrista), and Levihan (LevixHanji). But if DarkCaster existed in SnK it would be second only to MyTrax because just look at my blog’s name.
I changed their names a bit in this AU because I really hate the whole Charmcaster’s real name is “Hope” thing and just went with a name that still meant Charming. Hence Charmaine. I changed Michael to Mikhail mostly because of the other names like “Mike” being pronounced as “Mee-kay.”
It’s almost sad, Charmcaster thinks, All this power in his hands and he’s letting it all go to waste. By choice! It’s all she can do not to roll her eyes when Michael goes on about the dangers of his abilities. In the end, she decides He just needs a different perspective and I think I know just how to do that…
She doesn’t act on it immediately, tempting as it is. Instead she waits when she’s a little more insinuated in his life, when Michael’s mother not only accepts her presence but actively invites her into their lives.
Hime created an AU called “Role Reversal.” Mike was a different character and raised to have different values but the inclination for pride and his hunger for power were still there. They were just buried beneath the layers of morality and social obligation and guilt (oh man, the amount of guilt the guy was subjected to in this AU.) The AU meant DarkCaster as the ship I’ve come to know it would never come to be but CharmStar was still in the running!
Just look at how precious Mike is being all blushy and happy thanks to Charmcaster/Carmen (glamour spell or no.) Let’s all pretend that Charmie isn’t totally manipulating Mike in this AU to get back at the hero trio and instead genuinely likes his company. Let’s all pretend that I get to have my DarkCaster cake and eat it too instead of acknowledging that given the circumstances of the AU, Mike would not willingly join Charmie. And if he did join it would be through trickery and manipulation. The betrayal of his trust would poison the pairing and not in the fun-to-read-or-write-way.
