Grisha Jaeger was a local doctor in town and he has known the Ackerman family for the longest time since they were his regular patient. They were a small family of three, the father, a business man of some sort was rarely home, frequently away on trips. The mother, on the other hand, a woman around her early thirties was ill and was mostly bedridden.

They have a son the same age as his own.

The thought of the young boy that was always alone by himself made Grisha feel a little broken inside, reminding him always of his own son. Children of his age needed the utmost care and guidance they can get from a family, yet the boy had no choice but to get by on his own. His father prioritized his profession more than anything, and his mother needed to be constantly taken care of. Wealth can never replace affection and human connection. His little Eren was lucky for his wife was a solid ground that supports his family, and she was always there for him and his son no matter what.

With her, he felt like he can do anything.

.

Eren has known Levi since he was nine. His father always tagged him along every weekend to visit Levi's mother for her routine check-ups and medications. He knows that his father was a great doctor, but the woman's illness was something that he hasn't had a name for.

He still remembers the first time he met him. It was three years ago, and his father finally decided to take him along one day to work, saying that he could use an assistant since he was a big boy already. Eren has never been that excited before in his life. He was finally allowed to see how his father worked, and he can finally go out of town. He heard that the Ackerman family has such a big house that was situated amongst the cliffy hillsides of Trost, overlooking the whole district.

It was early in the morning when they arrived at their place, and much to Eren's amazement, the house wasn't actually a just a big house, but a huge, gorgeous-looking mansion complete with a courtyard. It stood alone amongst the dense forestry around, so much farther away from the other houses that were also erected along the hills.

Eren felt quite awkward inside it, feeling like a misplaced item. The place was so big for him and it felt like he was being swallowed whole. His father went to the master's room immediately and he was left waiting in a spacious room that was surrounded with massive glass walls, separating, yet letting him still admire everything from the courtyard outside. His father had expressed his utter dismay for he really cannot allow him inside after all, for Mrs. Ackerman's condition was really not so good that day. It might be a bit too unsightly for him to see, and he understood his father. Her caregiver explained that the medicines from the last treatment seemed to affect her in a different kind of way than it was supposed to be, leaving his father deeply concerned. He then took off by himself and asked him to stay at the waiting room until he was finished.

Left by himself, Eren remembered that his father had also mentioned that he would likely meet Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman's son, Levi, today. It was a weekend and he had no special classes, and he'll mostly just be staying at home. Eren felt that the day was deemed to be a failure as far as everything went, but he was hoping that maybe his fate might still change by the end of it.

Looks like I'm gonna sit here all day then, he thought glumly. There was no sign of Levi, and not even a single human being can be spotted anywhere. It was really quiet except from the occasional sound of birds outside, though he doesn't know how, but he still hears them nonetheless. He had been ogling at everything in sight, the furniture, the paintings, the decorative pots and the pristine wallpapers that adorned the walls. He wanted to take a closer look at everything, but he was too afraid that he might break something if he did so. The courtyard looks like something to explore too, but he needs to stay put and wait for his father.

The minutes had stretched slowly and Eren was really getting bored out of his wits. He thought of actually sleeping it off—he didn't care anymore, really, when he suddenly heard a sound. It was faint and short at first, but it was undeniably the sound of a piano being played nearby. Someone was playing a piece that he really did not know of, or heard of before. He really can't explain, but though it sounded good, it somewhat had a sad tone to it. He doesn't know how, but he just feels it, that sound that pulled not only the strings of the piano, but the strings of his heart as well. He instinctively stood up and followed the direction it came from.

He was eventually led to an open room past the great halls from where he came. The room is just as big as the waiting room and has the same glass wall that allows viewing of the garden outside. It held no doors like the other rooms (most of it), giving off a spacious, inviting feel. Here, the sun's light was pouring through, bringing the room into a soft glow. His green eyes trailed farther across its expanse, and he saw what he was looking for.

His back was turned to him as he sat behind the grand piano, playing a soft melody. It was a boy surely, and he was about his age or maybe younger than him. His hair was the colour of a raven, and his skin was pale. He watched him carefully as his little hands flew over the keys with seemingly no effort at all. He looked so small against the intimidating instrument, yet there was something about him that told Eren that he wasn't the type to be deterred. Maybe it was the way he gracefully stroked the keys, or the way his straightened back swayed slightly, precisely, along the melody or maybe it was the look of his total submersion in the bittersweet euphony. Maybe, it was everything.

And as if the boy sensed somebody watching him, the playing suddenly stopped and he looked around. Eren froze on the spot where he stood, feeling suddenly conscious in invading someone else's privacy. As he can't seem to talk at the moment, the other boy opened his mouth to say something, his tone curious.

"Who are you?" Eren gulped audibly, feeling a bit nervous.

"I'm Eren."

"I've never seen you before. What are you doing here?"

"I'm—" Eren trailed off as he watched the other boy scrutinize him, and he felt his discomfort increasing.

"Uhh.. I'm Dr. Jeager's son. He wanted me to come along with him today. I was just.. I heard someone playing and I just wanted to take a look. I didn't mean to interrupt you, really.." Eren replied as he awkwardly scratched the back of his head. After giving Eren one final scrutinizing look, the other boy replied in what seemed to be a resigned tone.

"It's alright, I was just practicing anyway." He said as he tore his gaze away from Eren, gazing blankly to the far off wall.

"What's your name?"

It was a stupid question, really, Eren thought. Of course he surely was Levi since there were just like—five people in entire mansion he had seen so far. Who else would it be? The maid's son? He surely dresses neatly to be one, though. Eren mentally smacked himself but he asked anyway to save the conversation. After what seemed like a lifetime in his head, the other boy answered again.

"I'm Levi."

The opportunity presented itself. More stupid questions, Eren thought. He'll just say anything that comes to his mind right now.

"How old are you?"

"Nine." Was the short answer he's got.

Well, he doesn't seem to be the conversational type, alright, the green-eyed boy mused. Not the one to give up, he tried again.

"It's really nice to meet you Levi! I'm the same age too!" Eren enthusiastically chirped.

"I just have to say that you are really good at playing the piano."

Eren gave him a wide and genuine smile. The raven-haired boy must have thought the same as he said a quick "thank you", and nothing more. An awkward silence followed, but he was determined to break it.

"Will you play it again?"

Eren is really hoping that the other boy will stop being so uptight. He's father is busy, he can't do anything to pass time, he was totally bored and he can't even talk with Levi in complete sentences. He is going to grow roots in the waiting room if he'll stay there any longer. His train of thought was cut off when he heard the other boy's response.

"I've never played for anyone before." The green-eyed boy blinked.

"Um.. Not even to your parents?" He asked, cocking his head slightly to a side. Levi shook his head.

"Why not?"

The confused boy unconsciously walked towards Levi's direction, and upon realizing it, he asked, "Can I sit beside you?" and gave the other boy his biggest, warmest, smile. Levi automatically scooted to his left to give Eren a space so sit. His eyes never left his face the entire time, transfixed in his smile. And once again the green-eyed boy tried.

"So why not?" Now that he was sitting beside him, Eren can clearly see his eyes. His intense blue eyes. He must have realized his staring for Levi whipped his head the other way, a blank look settling on his face. He seemed to hesitate but a reply came nonetheless.

"Well, my dad was always away for work and my mom is always sick. She does not leave her room. I'm just mostly alone with Erwin Smith, my piano teacher."

Eren regretted that he asked that question. It felt wrong. He guessed he made Levi feel bad, and he immediately felt bad for him too. If his half-sister could see him now, he could've sworn that she'd smack him at the back of his head in full force for being such an insensitive idiot. Levi was probably alone most of the time. His brows furrowed against the thought, and he wondered what to say next.

Levi watched as the boy with green eyes seemed to berate himself over something he had said. He wanted to tell him that it's okay and it's nothing, just to erase the frown that now adorned the boy's face. It does not suit him, for his smiles earlier were far better.

"Do you know how to play the piano, Eren?" He suddenly asked. The other boy seemed to snap out of his mental kicking and looked at him.

"Uhh. I really don't know how—" The green-eyed boy said almost shyly.

"I really don't have any talent with those kinds of.. stuff."

Surely he was just an average, talentless kid but her mom always said that even if he lacked mostly in those departments he's got a huge heart and a much larger sense of will and determination. Eren's face suddenly lit up again and Levi almost got blinded from the bright smile the he gave him.

"I'm sure I will enjoy it more watching you play it though."

"So.. Will you play for me? There's always a first time for everything, right?"

The raven haired boy looked at the other straight in the face. He was again all smiles and beaming at him enthusiastically, silently encouraging him. His oh-so-green eyes looked so large, bright and alive. It gave him that strange, fuzzy feeling inside that he can't quite understand. He can't almost fight the small smile that grew in his own face as he said, "okay."

.

Since then the two boys became friends, and every time Eren and his father went to visit the Ackermans, they always end up behind the piano, with Levi playing and Eren silently watching in him in awe. The raven haired boy seemed to get better and better in playing every time they meet, and they both look forward to seeing each other every weekend, as the two of them slowly build their own little world together.

Levi does not feel so lonely anymore. A small bundle of sunshine was always there to make him smile even when he feels like crying. His smiles, his laughter, enthusiasm and wonder seem to captivate him to no end. The way that Eren almost pouts when he's upset or feeling a little sad, or the look of deep concentration in his face when he actually tries to think, endears him. His bright emerald eyes shines in determination when he wants something so bad. He can clearly see his swirling emotions behind those two orbs, and he always gets lost in them every time. His expressiveness was just admirable. He realized that he liked Eren very much but he is not good with showing affection to other people. Eren does not seem to mind though, because he can read him like a book, and he knows when he's sad, angry, happy, or excited.

He had never felt so much before, but he was feeling all sorts of things now, because of Eren. He had become his sun, his warmth, and innocent joy. He wants him to stay, and he wanted to stay at his side for as long as he can.

.

Three years later, Eren still cannot believe that Levi was his friend. Time sure has gone fast and he did not expect (but honestly hoped) them to be such good friends. Just one look at the other and you can already tell that he was from a fine family. His neat, nice clothes, the way he talks, and the way he walks. He has never seen such a graceful boy before. Not only that he really is wealthy kid, but he also has the brains and the looks to back it all up. Had he mentioned that he was also talented in playing the piano? Honestly, he felt rather plain beside him.

No wonder that his locker at school is flooded with letters of admiration every day from his—well, admirers. Who would not like him anyway? Even the slightest of his actions makes him more attractive. Like the way he blushes slightly when he receives unexpected compliments from him, or how he averts his blue eyes and pretends to do something when he stares at him, smiling. They have been friends for three years and he's still being shy around him sometimes. He also takes note of how clean he always was with his stuff, making sure that everything is neat and sparkly. Even he himself smelled good—not that he tries to smell him or does he? And even though he is not much of a talker, he is always straightforward about everything. He wasn't being rude, but far from it actually, for he is rather, a really gentle person.

It made his guts feel fuzzy just thinking about all those things about him. It's like he wanted to put Levi inside a box, or his pocket, or something else so he could always keep him safe. He wished they would always be together like this, forever.

.

He was almost falling asleep because of the cool wind that brushes his skin, because of the inviting warmth of the raven-haired boy that he was leaning into, and because of the hand that gently sweeps his hair ever so lightly to keep it away from his face. Everything else was fading, from the trees, to the grass, and to the falling leaves. He feels that he could just fall right now to sleep or into his arms—just like this. His eyes fluttered and opened slowly as he heard his name, blinking the sleep slowly away.

"Eren."

He was still brushing his hair gently and the green-eyed boy can't seem to stay fully awake. He just managed a soft "hmm?" as a reply.

"If you're going die tomorrow, what will you do today?"

The sleepy boy stirred a little, smiling to the somewhat weird and unexpected question. Eyes now closed, Eren let his head drift completely to the other boy's shoulder, resting in his warmth comfortably. He's really going to fall asleep any moment now, but he still managed to whisper a truthful answer.

"Spend the day with you..?"

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