Chapter 1

It was not every day one found oneself standing outside of a warm-smelling burger place tucked away in a small corner of a small shopping center in a rather large city. Yet, as the autumn-colored rays of sunshine spilled over the horizon and a cool breeze ruffled his chocolate bangs, Eren Jaeger found himself doing just that.

And also trying not to be a nervous git.

He exhaled loudly, leaning back against a pillar and absentmindedly hoping that the flaking paint wouldn't rub off onto his jacket. His hands were jammed into his pockets, and his foot braced against the pillar. The early sunset sky was always a fond sight for Eren. It reminded him of days spent playing outside with Mikasa as kids, begging first his parents and then Mikasa's to let them have just ten more minutes. It reminded him of outside barbecues and cicadas starting to hum in a symphony, sans-conductor. And it reminded him of the day he had met Annie Leonhardt, the day she offered to teach him how to fight and, despite every instinct in his body telling him that getting thrown on his ass day after day wouldn't be worth it, he'd agreed. Because of the smile that he'd never seen before on her lips, and the hopeful look he'd never seen before in those cerulean eyes…

Ok, so he's not a damn poet.

Eren pulled back a sleeve and checked his watch, wondering when she'd get here.

X

Annie Leonhardt turned a corner, walking purposefully down the sidewalk and cursing her just-too-short bangs for not staying tucked behind her ear. She shivered slightly; despite wearing her standard long-sleeve hoodie, and the temperature outside hardly qualifying as cold, she still found herself wishing she could warm herself by a fire. Or even a dusty air vent. At this point, she wasn't picky.

Why had she ever agreed to this?

Annie sighed, almost able to imagine that she could see her breath in the air. Which wasn't true. She just wanted an excuse for being this cold.

It had happened yesterday, after her and Eren's regular sparring match after school. Since the day that she had offered to teach him about fighting, they practiced for an hour or so behind the main building every day. No one else was there; the few kids who were still at school by that time were probably out by the track or inside for some nerdy club.

After crashing to the ground for the fourth-or-so time, Eren had sat up and said, "Either my spine is really well built, or it's already destroyed, and I haven't realized it yet."

Annie snorted, unsmiling. She massaged her left shoulder, where Eren had actually managed to land a clean hit. Unfortunately for him, his surprise at her gasp of pain had given her the opening she needed to flip him to the ground. Again.

She walked over to and extended her uninjured arm. "We should end it here for today. Wouldn't want to injure your fragile spine again."

Eren looked at her for a moment, slightly surprised. He wasn't used to her offering to help him up—usually she just tucked her bangs behind her ear, unsuccessfully, as he pulled himself out of the dust.

"Is that sarcasm?" he said, taking her hand.

She didn't smile, but her lips might have shifted slightly. "Maybe," she replied, pulling him to his feet. She walked over to grab her bag off of the ground as Eren hefted his onto his shoulder, staring at the back of her head.

"Hey, um…" he started, as she paused and turned to look at him.

"What?" she questioned, wincing as the weight of the bag pulled on her hurt shoulder."

"…nothing," Eren said, turning to leave. "See you on Mon—"

"Spill it, Jaeger," Annie sighed. "It's obviously something, your face is easier to read than a damn kid's book."

Eren spun around, feeling his face heat up. "Um, I…" He scratched the back of his head, not meeting her eyes. "There's a new burger place that opened up in the shopping center not far from here, and… I was wondering if you might want to get something to eat there tomorrow?" he finished, finally looking at her.

Annie still didn't know why she'd agreed. Maybe… maybe it was for the same reason he'd agreed to practice with her, so many weeks ago. Maybe it was because when she looked into those emerald eyes and saw a world of hope behind them, she was intrigued. Maybe she was drawn in by that sheepish smile, which still somehow looked cute despite the healing cut on the bottom lip from last week.

Wait… cute?

Annie rolled her eyes at herself as she arrived at the shopping center. It was filled with parked cars and people carrying bags from the grocery store—people getting dinner for their family on the way home from work, no doubt. The burger place was not hard to spot, as there was a large "NOW OPEN!" banner out front. Even across the parking lot from the place, she could already smell the scent of cooking meat drowning out the faint odor of motor oil from the cars. It smelled surprisingly nice, considering she'd never had a burger in her life.

Ok. Now to find the suicidal bastard.

X

Author's Note: Well! This is my first fanfiction that I'm going to upload, ever, which I hope turns out to be as awesome as I hope it'll be. By all means, please review and critique, I'm very open to opinions and pointers. Keep an eye out for Chapter 2 soon!

-Steiner