Marco had been in the infirmary for quite some time. Jean hardly slept, hoping his friend survived the brutal attack from the Titan. He tried eating his breakfast without falling asleep on the table.

Footsteps were heard on the floor, and he glanced over. It was after a double-take did he realize this was his friend.

Half of the skin on the face was ruined and raw where he was attacked. An eyepatch on the right side held what Jean figured to be bandages over the most likely missing eye. Marco was missing his right arm, but the sleeve was there like the limb would be right there by it.

Getting up, he almost couldn't believe it. His friend had gotten through the attack!

Marco shifted a bit as he found Jean slowly getting over to him, "Looks like I got myself hit!" He rubbed the back of his head and looked to the ceiling of the room a bit nervously.

The man was still and silent. This was still being processed.

Being watched with such an expression worried Marco, but he was also weirded out. What was up with Jean? He was fine!

Not thinking, the slightly shorter came up and buried his face in the chest. He needed Marco. Breathing in the scents subtly as he took a deep breath, he felt tears. But they froze in the corners of his eyes as he noticed Marco laughing softly. Offended slightly, he glared into the fabric.

"There, there," murmured Marco, going as far as patting Jean's back.

"I hate you," he replied softly, but liked that he could stay next to his crush in this manner.

It took Jean awhile to come to terms with this attraction over their time knowing one another, but he found himself so into Marco without even realizing it. Each time the boy merely looked his way made his heart flutter.

Their bodies refused to part until Marco winced. His right side was sensitive, and Jean backed up fast.

Marco made a face, but smiles underneath it all, "Hey, I'm alright."

The blond rubbed the back of his neck, "Maybe to you, but it's making me depressed just seeing you like this."

That made Marco nervous. Did he look that bad? His joy of life was short-lived. Perhaps he was too hideous to look at after all. "I'm sorry you have to see me like this, then..."

Was he going to make Marco cry? Not on his time. Jean moved back in, kissing him firmly. That got hands on his chest to push him away, and an odd look.

The dark-haired frowned, "But I'm no longer a good thing for you to be around."

Jean felt defensive, "Do you know how close we were to losing you, Marco?" His breathing grew heavier as he felt tears once again, silently cursing the other, "I wouldn't have been able to stop loving you. So what makes you think I could stop loving you now? I'll do whatever it takes to make sure you'll be alright!"

The freckled man just watched over Jean, but eventually grew overly cuddly. They hugged, then suddenly the kissed. No, not sudden at all, they had been wanting to do this mutually for some time.

Jean would do anything for this guy. Whether it be help feeding him, to getting some chores done doubled-up so Marco wouldn't get caught up in it.

The duo moved to sit and cuddle on the bench on the table. Even with injury the spirits weren't dulled for Marco. He fed the boy his leftover eggs, knowing that the non-dominant arm wasn't accustomed for doing it on its own yet.

Marco obediently chewed and swallowed this food, licking his lips slightly, "I'm glad I lived."

"Yeah, but it's not like I thought you would have actually died." Marco had no idea. He watched the other blush under his freckles, "You can look any way you want, and I'll still want you."

That was big talk. Marco quirked a brow as he turned more towards his new partner, "Really?"

"Yeah, the eyepatch is growing on me."