A/N: This is a gift for W84U from Ao3. If it weren't for them this fic probably would never have been written. I know I have other fics I really should be working on but this idea was damn persistent and demanded to be written so here it is. It's probably cliched as fuck and I'm sorry but I'm a sucker for cliches. I hope you guys enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, just the plot.

Mauve-Humble

Chromesthesia or sound-to-color synesthesia is a type of synesthesia in which heard sounds automatically and involuntarily evoke an experience of color.

…

Levi

I don't know when I started thinking that my life was repetitive, boring. What the hell was I doing? Going to college, and for what? To get a job? Then what? Buy a house, get a wife, have kids.

Well the job thing is up in the air right now, I'm an art major for fucks sake and I have no idea what to do or what I want to do with my degree when I get it. I love doing what I do I just have no clue what I want from life. I will never have a wife, I don't even like women. Never been around kids so I have no idea if I even want any but considering what I've heard about them, they're messy little brats so I may never have kids and the house; If I ever end up with a job that pays enough, sure I'll get a house.

Today's the first day of my sophomore year at Kent State University and I had to wake up in one of those moods. The 'why the fuck did I even bother to wake up' moods. I knew if I didn't get my ass going though Hanji would show up and drag me out, not only that but I had to be at Student Center with everyone else for orientation. Thank fuck I'm not a freshman so I only have to be there for an hour. Half an hour after I force myself out of bed I'm showered, clothed and out the door to meet everyone.

…

Out front of the Student Center are Erwin and Hanji with Armin and Mikasa. I've known Erwin and Hanji pretty much all my life. Hanji met Armin through the Clinical Psychology courses they're both in, last year and since then they've been almost inseparable and Armin brought along Mikasa who just quietly fit herself right in.

I didn't mind them joining in our little group. Armin was usually pretty quiet and Mikasa had a resting bitch face almost as good as mine. Something was a bit off today when I approached them. Mikasa was smiling, Armin was vibrating with excitement and Haji was louder than usual and "Damnit Four Eyes will you shut the fuck up. What is up your ass today?" I had to pinch the bridge of my nose. I could feel the headache already if this was how the rest of the day was going to go.

"Eren's here." Armin blurted out excitedly. Erwin just smiled in light of their excitement. Not much ruffled him.

"As soon as we get done here, we're gonna meet him in the Performing Arts Center." Mikasa informed us gesturing to herself and Armin.

"Can we come too Mikasa. Pleeeaaaase?" Hanji begged, hands clasped in front of her chest and puppy dog eyes.

I watched Mikasa and Armin exchange a look before he nodded at her and she shrugged. "I guess. I'm sure he'd like to meet you guys."

Hanji started squealing and I had cut that shit off before she did any damage to my ears. "Well let's get this shit over with." I led the way into the building with the four of them following behind. Maybe today wasn't going to be as dull as I thought it might be. I just hoped the kid wasn't a brat.

…

One boring ass hour later and we were free. Since it was such a nice day we all decide to walk to the PAC and it would only take about 10 minutes anyway. Mikasa and Armin were leading the way this time, both of them talking in whispers while the rest of us watched curiously.

They finally stopped and turned toward us when we reached the doors to the PAC. "Whatever you do don't say anything you don't mean when you meet Eren, if you offend him in any way I will kill you and be quiet in here. Not one word until we say so. Got it?" Mikasa said mostly looking at Hanji for that last part.

They entered the building and we followed behind them. This was the quietest I've ever heard Hanji and Armin. I wanted to thank the kid already. Eren must have told one of them where he was going to be because we went right to one of the practice rooms. Mikasa paused again to turn and eye us before opening the door silently.

…

The voice that emerged from the open door...There are no words to describe it. Beautiful, Unbelievable, Refined, Unreal, Perfect. None of the words I could think of would fit right. Hanji gasped softly and Mikasa turned sharply and glared at her. Hanji covered her mouth with her hands and we followed Armin and Mikasa into the room.

Eren was sitting at a baby grand piano. It was facing the door so we could see him but since his eyes were closed he couldn't see us. He was cute from what I could tell with his eyes closed and him sitting. Messy dark brown hair framed a thin narrow face. I wonder what color his eyes are or how tall he is.

I put it out of my mind in favor of listening to him sing as he played.

All the promises I've made just to let you down.

You believed in me but I'm broken.

Jesus the kid could emote. I wanted to cry just listening to the pain in his voice.

I have nothing left.

And all I feel is this cruel wanting.

We've been falling for all this time.

And now I'm lost in paradise.

As much as I like the past not to exist.

It still does.

And as much as I'd like to feel like I belong here.

I'm just as scared as you.

Mikasa stop him before he could sing the next line of lyrics. I'm kind of glad she did. As much as I wanted to hear him sing more, I knew what the next line was and the way he sung 'I have nothing left' made me want to either cry or hug the kid and I don't do hugs so that should say a whole hell of a lot.

She went behind him and hugged him around the shoulders. I could hear her murmur his name when she buried her face in his neck. He stopped playing but didn't open his eyes just leaned his head against hers and grinned. "Mikasa. Sorry."

"Don't be sorry idiot, just stop unless you want a lecture like the last one." She said and smirked when his eyes snapped open and he looked up at her in absolute horror. I wondered what she could have said to put that kind of look on his face. I was glad though, he finally opened his eyes. From the angle I was at and the direction he was looking it seemed like he had green eyes but I couldn't be too sure.

He stood when Armin walked over to him. He stood from the bench and smiled as he hugged Armin. I knew years ago when Armin's grandfather passed away, Eren and Mikasa's parents took custody of him until he graduated and they knew each other long before that so they were as close as brothers.

Examining him closely I could easily see he was attractive. He was tall, maybe five inches taller than me. Slim with a swimmers build, I could see the tone of his muscle through the snug fit of his blue long sleeve tee shirt. Not a girlish figure but more curves than the average male. His faded jeans fit him very well and hugged his hips and displayed a very nice ass. Over all he made a very nice picture to look at.

They hugged for a few minutes and Eren close his eyes again when Armin started murmuring in his ear. Whatever was said made Eren laugh and they broke apart. "Oh, Eren these are three of our friends. We've told you a little about them." Armin told Eren finally.

I know I probably looked like an idiot for the first time in my life. I almost raised my hand to make sure my mouth hadn't fallen open or some stupid shit like that. I just couldn't believe how wrong I was about his eyes. One eye was a tropical ocean of blue and green. The other was a sunset gold. I have never met anyone with eyes of either color, and all I could think was 'is everything about this kid beautiful?' I take back what I thought before. He wasn't merely nice too look at or even just attractive. He was fucking gorgeous.

…

"That's Erwin," Armin said pointing to him, Erwin smiled and nodded in greeting. "Hanji," She still had her hands covering her mouth, she squealed quietly behind her hands and Eren snickered. "That's Levi. Don't let his face fool you he's a lot like Mikasa in that sense." I just scowled at Armin for that comment. He held his hands up in surrender. "I just mean that you're not as mean as most people assume because of your expression."

Maybe not but no one, not even my friends needed to know that.

When Hanji kept bouncing in place and making noise behind her hands, Eren looked at her curiously. "Is something wrong?" She shook her head excitedly and Eren looked at his sister. Mikasa's eyes widened comically. She waved a hand dismissively, "You can speak now."

"Mikasa! You told them they couldn't speak?"

"Yeah. I know how hard it is for you with extra noise and trust me you don't want to try playing or singing when Hanji is talking."

He shrugged and conceded looking back at the three of us. Probably the worst thing he could have done. Hanji dropped her hands and proceeded to talk in that unmerciful high pitched voice she gets when she's over excited. "Oh my god you are so cute and your eyes are so pretty, are they real? You play and sing beautifully." I watched him wince through her whole speech when Mikasa hissed at her.

"Hanji. Calm down. Talk, don't screech."

"Sorry Eren." He sighed in relief and smiled at her.

"Yes my eyes are real and thank you." He answered her questions as he walked around the piano. "It's nice to finally meet you guys. Armin and Mikasa have told me a lot about you guys. I'm guessing from Hanji's reaction to my eyes that neither of my siblings has told you guys much about me." He looked over his shoulder at Mikasa and Armin.

"Basics." Mikasa answered the unasked question and smiled.

"I could have fun with this then." He stated with a breathy laugh.

I figured I might as well speak up this time and besides my curiosity was getting the better of me. "What could be fun?" I don't know what I said but his head whipped around fast enough I thought he might have given himself whiplash. His eyes were wide and his mouth was parted in surprise.

He walked over to me and stood right in front of me. He bent down slightly to look me in the eye. "Could you repeat that please Levi?"

I think I could have listened to him say my name over and over for the rest of my life and I lost my voice for a moment. "What could be fun Brat?"

He paid no attention to the nickname or rude tone of my voice just smiled. It was unlike any of the others he'd shown in the short time I'd seen him. This one was serene and I think I'd do anything he wanted just to see that smile again.

"You're an Art Major right?"

"Yeah and?"

"Do you sing at all?"

"No. Why?"

"You have nearly perfect control of your voice. I bet if you sang it would sound beautiful."

I don't know why he would think I could sing. "I do have perfect control."

"No you don't, trust me. Just in that sentence I can see a little anger, some disbelief and curiosity. Hanji is easily excitable, curious and a genuine person. What you see is what you get from her. Erwin would have to say something for me to get a read on him." Eren said and turned to our blonde friend.

"How do you know all that?" He said finally.

"Hmmm. I'm not gonna tell yet. But you are smart, dependable and fiercely loyal to those you care about." While the three of us were staring at him in astonishment, Mikasa and Armin were standing behind him laughing.

Hanji's eyes widened and she sucked in a sharp breath. Erwin and I looked at her when she spoke. The excitement on her face didn't match the tone of her voice this time. "You said you can see what we are feeling when we speak?" He nodded at her question.

"That makes so much sense now. What type?" Hanji asked.

"Ha you two owe me five bucks. I told you Hanji would figure it out." Armin shouted out addressing both his adopted siblings.

"Chromesthesia." Eren answered ignoring his brother.

"Holy shit that's awesome and rare. I've never met anyone with any type of Synesthesia. I have so many questions for you." She said excitably.

"I'll tell you whatever you want as long as you don't talk like that when I'm around." He promised her as he winced again.

"Okay, someone want to let me and Erwin in on the secret?" I said. Now I was a little irritated. Hanji is the one who finally spoke.

"Uh the easiest way to explain it is, Eren sees sounds as colors." She turned back to Eren. "I've read about it and I know everyone is a little different so can I ask how it works for you?"

"Sure but can we get out of here. I'm starving and I don't know about you guys but I'm getting tired of standing."

"There's a cafe not too far from here and it should be fairly quiet at this time of day. Will that be okay?" Hanji asked Eren. Hanji had her moments where she could be serious and quiet but those times were few and far between. I think this is the longest she's gone without squealing, screeching or yelling about one thing or another and for that alone I think I loved this kid.

"I can deal with the noise but I'd rather not deal with the eye strain. Too much sound means I see way too many colors and it can get distracting at times."

I just couldn't stop the snort of laughter and I really should have when Eren turned to me raising an eyebrow in question. "I was right all along. Four eyes is a distraction and an eyesore."

Eren flinched and shook his head. "What did I say?" I was curious at what I said that made him react that way. I was not expecting him to place a warm hand on my shoulder or for him to lean in close to me. His cheek brushed lightly against mine and wow his skin was soft as hell and holy shit did he smell good. I know I have a thing for cleaning but he smelled like clean sun dried linen. His warm breath flowed over the shell of my ear and my whole body stiffened to prevent a shudder from working its way down my spine.

"I'll admit you were telling the truth about Hanji being a distraction but you don't really think she's an eyesore do you." And it wasn't a question only confidant truth in his whispered voice. "Lies are such an ugly color. Please don't lie around me Levi." Holy fuck I didn't know my name could sound so good and now my thoughts were becoming repetitive and annoying. I know my eyes had gone wide and my mouth had dropped open and all I could do was nod at him when he pulled away to look at me. Fuck my life. The fucking kid was beautiful and dangerous. Not in the physical sense, though that's entirely possible too, but dangerous for the image I had kept up my whole life.

Hanji cackling and Erwin's laughing broke our awkward silent staring contest. We turned to them at the same time. "Whatever it was you said to him keep it up. For as long as we've known Levi neither of us has seen him so taken aback." Erwin said after he had gotten done laughing.

"So Eren what did you say to my little friend?" Eren shook his head at her. "You'll have to ask him if you want to know."

"Fuck off the both of you. Let's just go before I…". Beat your asses. Was what I was going to say. God damn it all to fucking hell! I let the sentence trail off because I knew I was about to say something not true, I wouldn't kill them or even seriously injure them, but right then I really wanted to beat their asses. I saw the beginning of a flinch from Eren and growled a curse under my breath. I pointed a finger at the boy, "You are a fucking brat." All he did was laugh because that was an honest truth and he knew it.

I walked away from them. Hanji and Erwin scrambled to keep up with me and the other three followed behind at a more sedate pace. It was like being a magnate. Attract and repel. Eren was that for me. I want to be closer to him. He was warm, beautiful and inviting. But at the same time I wanted to get far away. I knew nothing about him but I wanted to know everything. I had a feeling he knew more about me in just the 20 minutes we had known each other, than anyone else including my parents, knew and I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.