DISCLAIMER! ~ I DO NOT OWN ATTACK ON TITAN OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS! THEY ALL BELONG TO HAJIME ISAYAMA! I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THESE PICTURES! CREDITS BELONG TO THEIR ORIGINAL OWNERS! I ONLY OWN THE PLOT OF THIS STORY! I HOPE YOU ENJOY AND HAVE A NICE DAY!

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Maria Hospital: Hospital Room 69, Level 4
19th Of September XX14
02:37 pm

A rusty, squeaking noise erupted throughout the unusually quiet room; it was caused by the painfully slow opening of the entrance to the sickeningly white room. Despite the sudden sound, I was terrifyingly calm as I waited for the person, or people - who caused said sound - to speak, or announce who they were at least.

Although, nothing triggered my senses but the soft howls of the cool breeze as they brushed against my ears, and the scent of medicine reaching my senses. It made me shrivel away in disgust, wanting nothing more than to run away from the awful smell that had surrounded me all throughout my life... but I knew it is not, and never will be, possible.

The unbearable silence that consumed the whole room made me assume that the cause of the disturbance was still by the doorway. I opened my mouth to speak to the stranger, or strangers, but before I could, a pair of footsteps squeaked against the seemingly clean, white floor, making my movements stop in their tracks.

I quickly snapped my mouth shut, the tiniest bit of heat making its way to my cheeks from embarrassment as I sat there awkwardly, not knowing who had made their way into my lonesome room.

The pair of footsteps resounded throughout the room, getting louder and closer to my weak form, which lay in the comfort of a thin but warm blanket of a semi-comfortable mattress.

The seconds ticked by ever so slowly and, eventually, they stopped just beside my neatly made bed. Assuming their height, I looked up at the stranger.

"Tch, look a little lower, brat." A voice suddenly spoke in a rude manner, breaking the comfortable silence.

I thought for a second; it sounded so familiar, like I've longed to hear this person's voice for a very long time. It sounded like a males voice because of its deep tone and the way they spoke but I knew better than to assume a person's gender by the sound of their voice.

I quickly obeyed the voice, making sure to remember where the familiar sound had come from so I got their height right this time. Seemingly so, I had guessed the correct height as the stranger said nothing more. Instead, there was the sound of an object being dragged across the tiled floor, creating a low creaking sound, making my sensitive ears twitch.

My head snapped towards where I heard the ungrateful sound, hoping to find where the stranger was. "Over here." Their voice was softer this time, almost as if it were sad... but it wasn't sympathetic, never was it sympathetic.

The thing was, I never really liked to receive sympathy from others; I never needed it and, besides... receiving sympathy wouldn't help my situation at all. This person didn't give me any sympathy for my situation... I liked them already.

Speaking of their voice, I could detect a hint of pain, as well as sadness in it... it was faint, but it was definitely there... for only the worthy to hear. It sounded like a nightingale singing in the faint light of the awakening sun; I hadn't ever heard such a gorgeous sound before... but it's not like I had heard that many sounds throughout the long 18 years of my boring life anyway.

I cleared my throat before speaking, my voice hoarse from the lack of water entering my system, "So... um, I hope you don't mind me asking but... who are you?" I had decided to ask, cutting the thick tension. It almost seemed as though time itself had slowed to a stop for this exact moment. It was as if fate had planned this life-changing encounter from the very beginning.

But that wasn't possible... right?

"Name's Levi, brat." Levi...? That name... I had heard it before, many many times. I started to think back to all the visitors I had received through my life - which was not many. Of course, I didn't remember all of them, that'd be impossible, but I was certain that Levi had never visited me; I would've never forgotten the sound of their voice if they had - it was absolutely beautiful.

But what stuck to me the most was the use of the word 'brat'. It rolled perfectly along their tongue, their not-too-thick French accent perfectly fitting the words they spoke. I liked the sound of it. I wondered what it'd be like to hear my name roll across their tongue; I was sure that it would give me a shiver down my spine.

"My name's not 'brat,'" I feigned annoyance in my voice as I had found the word quite pleasing to hear from Levi's mouth even though the word was meant to be an insult. "It's Eren. Eren Jeager." I clarified, turning my head away from them to face the slightly opened window, only to immediately turn back, wanting to see Levi's face before realising the painful truth.

I could practically feel them rolling their eyes at me but they didn't say anything more; it was kind of nerve wracking to have a stranger that you feel like you've met before  - but you haven't - enter your hospital room without giving a reason as to why.

"I know..." Levi mumbled under their breath but I still managed to catch it. I was confused as to why Levi already knew my name but I shrugged the thought off just as fast, thinking that my Doctor, Hanji, probably told them already.

"Anyways... welcome to my home, Levi." I didn't know why I said those words; it just seemed... right. I heard Levi's breath hitch; did I say something to trigger a painful memory...?

"Thanks... Eren." It was the first time I heard them use my name; it was oddly exciting - so exciting that I didn't notice how much sadness lingered in their tone of voice; oh so very sad and painful.

"So why are you... here?" I gestured to the space around us; the tension between us had become too thick for my liking so I made the choice to break it, "I assume you aren't here to visit me or anything 'cause I don't think I've ever met you before."

I heard them click their tongue, making a 'tch' sound in the process; I had taken a mental note that they seemed to do that a lot, probably a habit of his. "You ordered a book, a Braille one at that. I'm here to deliver it to you."

Instantly, I recalled asking my nurse - Doctor Hanji Zoe - for a book that I could've possible 'read' just a few days ago. I had learnt Braille a few months after I found out about my... situation. Although it was fun to learn, it also made the ugly truth sink in further; I didn't want to accept it but... I knew I had to, eventually.

At the age of seven, I had found joy in reading, mostly about the ocean; I had always wanted to see it but now, I would never get to for... obvious reasons. Reading had always brought calmness to me no matter what sort of state I was in. It always seemed to light a fire in my eyes - well, that what my best friend, Armin, used to say at least.

"Thank you so much!" I grinned up at them, "I haven't 'read' anything since... that day... so I've been waiting to get a book like this for a~ges!" I rambled, dragging out the 'a' to exaggerate my point.

"Brat..." Levi mumbled but, alas, I still managed to hear it and even though I couldn't see their face, I could practically hear the small smile in Levi's voice. It was faint though, as always.

Wait... as always..? I had only known Levi for a few minutes but it felt as though I had known them for a very long time. Maybe it was just my mind messing with me... but, what could it be? It's weird... how could've we had met? I guess I could always ask them but for now...

There was a moment of silence but I decided to break it once again with a question that had been bugging me, though I didn't want to seem rude, "Um.. excuse me for asking this but..."

"Just spit it out already." Levi cut me off, irritation in their voice.

"What gender are you?!" I practically yelled, a burning tinting itself onto my cheeks.

They seemed taken aback by my sudden outburst for it took them a while to answer. Well, I couldn't exactly blame them. "I'm male."

"Ah, I see... that explains a lot." I nodded my head slightly in acknowledgement.

To be honest. I hadn't talked to another male in a few years... I mean, sure, I've talked to my other Doctors that have passed me onto to different Doctors but those weren't really conversations, they were just informing me about my health and whatnot. Yep, not a real conversation.

"Well... it explains your deep tone of voice and the way you talk; it's really badass, by the way." I blurted out.

My face flushed and I started to nervously fidget with my fingers as I realised what I had just admitted.

"I see..." I could practically hear the smirk playing at his lips; so sly and mischievous.

"I-I'm so sorry! I d-didn't mean anything by it!" I bowed my head down in nervous embarrassment; I couldn't believe I said all that without thinking.

'Oh, how stupid can I be? Levi must think that I'm a freak...'

To my surprise and delight, he did something I never thought he would do. It caught me off guard at first but I soon regained my composure as I listened to the wonderful sound that echoed throughout the overly quiet room, a smile on my lips as I did so.

His laugh; so beautiful and clear, not a hint of flaw detected, even more so than his normal tone of voice, void of all emotion. It was nothing like I've ever heard before and, honestly, I wanted to hear more of it.

I could've replayed this moment over and over, never getting bored or tired of it. But there was one thing I regretted in that moment for I whispered something I'd never be able to take back.

"I'm never gonna forget this moment... ever."