This damn sea was becoming boring for everyone on the ship. They had set sail three weeks before and had been sailing nonstop the entire time. They were maybe a day or so from the next expected strip of land, a small harbor town named Shitshiner or something like that. Not that anybody really cared what it was called, just so long they could get off the ship and stretch their legs and eat some real food.

Captain Levi was perhaps the grouchiest aboard Humanity's Strongest, although if you asked any of the crewmates, they would tell you that were always true no matter the circumstances.

His second-in-command, First Mate Hanji Zoe, came running up the shining wooden steps to the ship's wheel.

"Captain! Captain, we should reach land in less than two hours!"

"Hmm?" he asked, pulling himself from his thoughts. "Finally. What's the name of this shitty town again?"

"Shiganshina, sir!"

Well, he hadn't been that far off now had he?

"Very well," Levi replied. "Go back to your duties then. Ask Petra to take note of what needs restocking and report back to me before we reach Shiganshina."

Hanji put her right fist against her chest and skipped off. Levi stared after her and wondered why in the living hell he ever decided to take her on and make her his first mate. It was probably because no one else could put up with his sadistic ass for that long, if he had to take a guess.

A small, salty breeze ruffled his hair and he took a deep breath in. Despite the lack of excitement right now, there was no denying how much he loved the sea.

It was infinite and unpredictable.

But it was lonely.

"Eren! Eren, wait up!" Mikasa yelled, chasing after her brother as he ran through the cobble streets. Today was the day Grisha Jaeger, his father, would come back from overseas. Well, the day he was supposed to. Mikasa had learned over the years that Grisha wasn't always the most dependable.

There had been more than one occasion where she had stayed up all night comforting her brother. But, despite his lack of appearance, he never failed to send money for the tax collectors, market days, and for whatever they desired to buy. His job as a respected doctor never failed to pay well.

Either way they both worked odd jobs whenever they could, building up their own supply of money in case there was ever an emergency. It was Mikasa's idea and Eren couldn't find a reason to refuse.

Eren stopped running and waited impatiently for his adopted sister to catch up. As soon as she was a few steps from him he took off again. He was finally going to see his father again after a whole year, he couldn't stay stopped for long.

While the two of them hadn't departed on the best terms, he was willing to swallow his pride, apologize, and enjoy however long they had together.

The two of them reached the harbor only a few minutes later. The sea breeze was stronger and the stench of fish and salt made Eren's nose scrunch in disgust. He loved the sea, but damn sometimes it could smell.

He always wanted to go sailing. You'd think he'd have gone at least once, living in a harbor town but his father strictly forbade it. In fact, that was the argument they had the last time his father had to leave. Eren wanted to sail across that infinite space forever, but for some reason, he couldn't.

His best friend Armin always used to say that if you dreamed hard enough it would happen, one way or another. That was several years ago, before he was taken. It seemed that everyone always left him. Besides Mikasa of course, she was too stubborn to go anywhere.

"When do you think his ship will come in?" Eren asked his sister. She shrugged in response, pulling up her scarf. She honestly wasn't sure if he would even come today.

"Right," Eren muttered. "Well, let's get something to eat and we can wait for him."

"Alright."

For the next hour, they ate in silence. They got up once to dispose of their trash and sat back down. Eren, normally a very active person, was about dead with boredom.

"Mikasa," he whined, "this is taking too long."

"We could go see Hannes while we-"

Eren sat up straight and snapped his fingers. "I've got it! We can go visit Hannes while we wait! Let's go, Mikasa!"

She sighed but got up after him. Mikasa chose her battles carefully and this just wasn't worth it.

The tavern that their long-time friend, Hannes, owned and worked at was nearly empty. It was about six in the evening and most were content to stay at home and enjoy a nice meal with their families.

"Ah, children!" Hannes shouted. "Long time no see! Lemme grab a drink for us and you can tell me how you've been."

"Thanks," Eren grinned.

The three of them all sat down and recounted everything that had happened recently. Mikasa successfully cured a little's girl's sickness recently. Eren had gotten some sword training in exchange for work. Hannes had, well, sold some alcohol. Same old, same old.

During the few minutes it took for them to catch up to the present, the sun outside began dipping past the horizon. Hannes got to work lighting the candles to bring more light. While he was busy doing that he noticed a large group walk in.

"Welcome!" he greeted. "What can I get for ya?"

"How many kegs of rum can you sell us?" Levi asked with his usual frown. His eyes scanned the rest of the pub with disinterest until it came to rest at the only slightly interesting people near the bar. He was unable to determine their ages yet.

Hannes scratched his head. "Let's see, I've got about three down below I could give ya, but you'd need to give me a little time to make enough for two more. How fast do ya need 'em?"

"Petra?" Levi turned to his Quartermaster.

"We'll need at least five if we want it to last the trip to Trost, Captain."

Captain Levi sighed. Of course three wouldn't be enough and of course this god-awful town only had one alcoholic vendor. At least, one that wasn't obviously crawling with disease.

"Fine. Alright, just hurry up with it, would you? I don't want to stay in this shitt-"

Hanji cleared her throat. The last thing they needed was to offend this poor man and get worms in their rum. "How about a round for everybody? Good man, we'll all take your best!"

Hannes gave the short man a dubious look but went to pour out the three drinks. Hanji, Petra, and Levi sat down at the bar. Unfortunately, the girls had longer legs and Levi was stuck sitting next to the two other people already there.

He swore they did this on purpose. Who knew how nasty those people might be.

Despite that, though, he couldn't help overhearing their hushed conversation.

"Do you think that maybe Dad went up to the house already?" the one closest to Levi, a boy, asked.

The girl sitting beside him, face half-buried in a bright red scarf said, "Maybe. It's possible he's not coming today."

"Right, I know that," the boy insisted. "I just- what if something happened? People are saying that pirates are more active than usual. What if he-"

"Eren," the girl whispered fiercely. "It won't help to kill yourself with worry."

Levi couldn't help but snort softly when he hear this, Eren, talk about pirates. What he would give to see the boy's face when he realized he was sitting right next to one. A Captain, no less.

The girl sat up straight and analyzed the man beside her brother. Who did the little midget think he was to eavesdrop and then mock what they were saying?"

Eren, noticing that Mikasa was a hairbreadth away from confronting the stranger that pulled up beside him, grabbed her arm and shook his head. "Don't worry about it, Mikasa. Ignore the short bastard."

Usually Eren would have been the one that erupted, but the rum was making his head fuzzy and he was just plain tired.

"What did you say?" Levi asked, a dangerous glint in his eyes. Hanji and Petra dropped their conversation and watched their captain carefully.

Eren turned his head to unknowingly face one of the most feared pirates across the seas. Said pirate took in his face and nearly fell off his seat. His expression didn't change, but his heart hammered in his chest as he looked in Eren's eyes.

Eyes that reminded him of the sea he loved so much.

"You heard me," the boy answered. "Or are you deaf as well as short?"

Levi's Quartermaster closed her eyes while his First Mate looked eagerly on, they both knew what was coming next.

"Damn brat," Levi scowled. Goddamn beautiful brat. He didn't want to do this, but well, the best form of discipline was pain. And he was determined to make him obey.

"Mikasa, calm down!"

"Calm down? That complete asshole just attacked you!" Mikasa growled.

"Yeah, well it's not like I didn't, sort of, ask for it."

Mikasa huffed and sat down across from him. They were in the back room of the tavern, in Hannes private quarters, while Mikasa gave Eren a once-over.

"Your face is total shit, Eren."

"Thank you, dear sister of mine, your tact never ceases to surprise me."

Mikasa rolled her eyes and dipped a rag in a bowl of alcohol, there was never a lack of it near Hannes. "Shut up and let me clean the blood off, idiot. Weren't you the one that said he wasn't worth it?"

"Ah, I- heh, well you know-"

"Eren, are you blushing?"

He spluttered and coughed out something that resembled a, "no." How could he be blamed for being a bit flustered around . . . that man. Now that he thought of it, he never heard what his name was. Damn.

"Right," she concluded, "it's probably just the blood."

"Right," Eren agreed quickly.

It was just the blood.

Not that man.

Definitely not him.