The rating is for later use. Eren is 20 years old and Levi is 28. The story will be in Eren's point of view unless the chapter says other wise. Well, Enjoy!
I was laying in my bed trying to get through the first chapter of my 'History of Government' textbook. With a light sigh I put the book off to the side, no matter how much I tried I just couldn't get past the first paragraph. I had barely started taking classes at Sina University and I already felt like dying. The only reason I agreed to study at Sina was because my mother and father both graduated from there. It was actually where they had met. Grisha Jaeger, my dad, is the best and most respected doctor in all of New York, he's also the co-owner of my mothers business. Carla Jaeger, my mom, is the owner of SHIGANSHINA, one of the biggest fashion departments in the country. She had it harder than my dad though. It wasn't just the fact that she owned and managed it but the fact that she was a woman. Being a successful business owner and a woman didn't sit well with people in 1922. You'd think that being the beginning of the 20's would change peoples opinions on women running a business. I guess not all of us want to look forward to a better future.
My mother and father being well known, and well paid by the way, meant that we were one of the rich families in the city. They were invited to every social event, and me being their only child was required to attend. Just like it was required that I attend their previous college. I had turned 20 years of age in March, which is when my father had informed me about the opening at Sina University. The paperwork was a hassle, but having parents like mine meant I was accepted right away. This week was the start of my school year and the late August weather matched my mood.
I was physically ready to start my college life, but mentally I could crush boulders with all the pressure building up. The good thing was that my classes didn't officially start until next week. This week had only been a meet and greet with my teachers and their course objectives. Reading this textbook only made the idea of starting my future even more depressing. Being the only child meant people expected something big from me. Friends of my parents talked about me being a doctor like my dad, or a business major like my mom. Yet, what they didn't try to understand was that I wanted to be neither. I'm still not sure of what I want to be, and that's why starting college has put me under so much mental anguish.
Taking a walk in the fresh night air might help me calm down. Sighing heavily I pushed myself off the bed and walked towards the living room. Just like I expected, neither my mom nor dad are home yet. You'd think that having the pent house to myself for the past 20 years was a normal feeling by now. With another sigh I grabbed my coat off the rack and locked the front door. I was fighting with my coat as I stepped into the elevator, being on the top floor meant that I had time to win this fight before I got outside. Finally, fixing the last button to my coat I had about a second to realize that the elevator had stopped. The night air was only a few steps away.
Stepping out from the apartment building made me sigh with relief. It seemed like I had been sighing more than usual. While August was still considered a summer month it got pretty chilly in New York. The cold breeze nipped at my cheeks and I took in a deep breath. Well as deep as the pollution from the city would let me. I pushed my coat collar up trying to cover as much of my face as I could before I started walking down the street.
I know about this coffee shop in the poor part of downtown. It's my favorite not only because the coffee there is great, but also because my parents didn't know about it. The coffee shop was a good hour walk from the pent house. I liked to use that time to think to myself, or just not think at all. Tonight I just wanted to clear my mind of everything that was happening around me. Maybe I should at least pay attention to the people walking past me. My goal was to make it to the coffee shop without any interruptions.
Thankfully I did make it without any mishaps. On the side of a small building hung a sigh, The Garrisons. The lettering was in red with a light green outline and around the words were three roses. A bell rang lightly as I stepped in and I saw a streak of blond hair from behind the counter. I was then reminded of another reason why I liked coming here, Armin worked here. Armin Arlert was my only friend, not because I was anti- social, but because I trusted him more than anyone. I met him the day I randomly stumbled in here about four years ago. His grandfather owned The Garrisons, but Armin managed the whole thing.
"Eren! I was wondering when I'd see you again." Armin beamed up at me from his spot at the counter. I couldn't stop myself from smiling and letting out a chuckle at his excited welcome.
"Hey Armin, can I have a cup of tea today? I'm not in the mood for coffee right now." I gave him my order as I found a seat at the bar stools closest to him. He gave me a smile with a light nod before heading towards the back where he made the drinks. As he began working on that I decided to look around. It was about 9 o'clock so I didn't expect a crowd. There was a couple that looked to be in their 40's in a booth by the entrance. Three men in suits, who had just left work, in the stools at the bar across from me.
Then my eyes caught onto a man in the corner of the back booth. I couldn't quite make out his face which was being covered by the shadows of the light. He had a book in his hands and a steaming mug in front of him. His jet black hair looked slicked back but it wasn't greasy with product, it looked natural. He was wearing a black suit with a gray button up under it, the top two buttons undone, and the loose hanging silk tie was a bright silver. The color contrasts looked beautiful on the pale skin that peeked out from his barely exposed chest.
I realized I had been staring at him for a while when he looked up from his book. Thankfully he didn't look my way, but rather looked out the window behind me. I quickly averted my gaze back to Armin who was now finished with my tea. He set it down on a napkin in front of me. The smell was overwhelming, just from the scent I knew he didn't forget Jasmine was my favorite. I took a long hard gulp of the burning liquid, the feeling of my throat on fire was welcomed.
"Wow, take it easy Eren. I don't want you burning yourself from the inside out." His words were sarcastic, but there was a hint of worry in his tone. His face didn't hide the worry either, his light blue eyes scanning my face for answers to his unasked questions.
"I'm fine, it's just been a hard day." was all I said. He raised his eyebrow at my simple reply. He obviously wanted an explanation of the 'hard day'. I lifted the mug up to my lips, this time taking a small sip and savoring the flavor. With yet another sigh to add on the list, I continued. "I went on a tour of Sina today, met some of the teachers and received my books."
"So your still overwhelmed by the pressure that school is putting on you. Eren, why don't you just tell your parents you're not ready for this?" Somehow he could always read me like an open book. He could tell just by looking at me that I wasn't ready at all. I wasn't ready for college and I really wasn't ready for my 'new' life to begin.
"They're just so proud I got accepted that I don't want to disappoint them." The conversation was mainly me talking about my problems while he listened and gave me encouraging thoughts. This is how my friendship with Armin usually went. I always talked about my problems and he always listened carefully.
I had finished two mugs of tea when our conversation came to its end. The total for my tea came out to $0.30, as always I gave him a $5 dollar bill and made him keep the change. What can I say, I have more money than I need or want for that matter. I left with a good night and a big smile on my face. As I was stepping thou the door I saw that the man who sat at the corner had gotten up from his spot, and made his way towards Armin. I abruptly shifted my focus to the air outside before I was left staring at him again. Why couldn't I stop staring at him?
Just as I was asking myself that question I was blinded by the intense flare of headlights. In that split second everything around me went into slow motion. A car was racing in direct route of The Garrisons, I could tell they were in a hurry by the screeching of the tires. As the car was getting closer to the coffee shop I saw a glint of a gun's barrel poking out from the back window. In the background I faintly heard the familiar sound of the shop bell ring just as the loud explosions from the gun shot out into air. The harsh sounds not only left me deft but also paralyzed in fear.
In a sudden flash of movement I was tackled to the floor. I felt a body on top of me covering my entirety from the bullets. When I collided with the ground there was an immediate pain striking me repeatedly in the back of my head. I was nauseous, dizzy, and aware of the danger all at the same time. When the body on top of me shifted upwards my eyes widened. It was the man who sat in the corner. He was kneeling on top of me with a leg on either side of my midsection. He held a pistol in his hand pointed at the retreating car. The recoils of the gun seemed to go unnoticed by the man, his arm was stiff and absorbed every shock. Each pull of the trigger made my heart pound harder.
Just as fast as the car had appeared it turned a corner and vanished. At the loss of danger the pain in my head became more pronounced. My vision blurred and I couldn't even see the man straddling me. In my foggy view I could hardly make out the man looking down at me and Armin running towards us.
"Levi, are you guys all right? Did anyone get shot?" Armin sounded frantic and more worried than I had ever heard him. Levi? What was he talking about? Is that the mans name? Before I could ask or even say anything my eyes were closing. I was left in the dark, but I could still hear bits of their conversation.
"We're fine, from any bullets at least. I think the kid hit his head on the way down." The voice was low and seemed almost bored at the situation. I must have been from the man still on top of me.
I felt a hand move under my head and it left just as it touched the source of my pain. "Oh man, he's bleeding to much." I could scarcely make out Armin's voice say. Why was I bleeding and why couldn't I move or even open my eyes?
"Calm down Arlert, get some napkins from inside and then help me carry him to the car." Again the mans voice was low, but this time it sounded as if he had a calmer tone. Was it to get Armin under control? I felt him shift on his knees before he was completely off of me and to my side.
A minute later the hand from before returned under my head, but this time the ruffling sound of napkins came with it. "Sir, where are you planning to take him?" Armin's voice was farther ahead and I heard the click of a car door being opened. My body was then lifted into strong arms.
"To the hideout. They saw his face, obviously they recognized him." I heard the mans voice a mere inches from my ear. This was the last I heard between the two before I completely slipped into unconsciousness.