The letter had came about a week ago, and Jean had kept it tucked safely away in his back pocket since then. Just to keep an eye on it, really. Jean had developed a bad habit of losing things over to the years, everything from pens to hundred dollar bills to the trust of his parents. The letter however, he couldn't lose. He wouldn't be able to replace it.

It seemed simple. The paper was a little old, and it crinkled softly whenever Jean sat down, as if trying to tell him it's contents in it's own language. That wasn't necessary. He knew what it said. In school, Jean could never bring himself to remember any of the passages that his high school tried to force him into memorizing, but this was different. This was his future on a page. And not some stupid, cliché future either, like a shitty college acceptance letter that other teenagers dreamed about. A real future, one that all those guys had thought about when they were little but couldn't bring themselves to even consider now.

Mr. Kirstein,

We have received your application for an apprenticeship, and after careful consideration, I am now writing to inform you that you have been accepted.

Your mentor is Marco Bott, and you will start training under him allow with a few other selected instructors in one week from today. Be at the Scouting Legion Agency building (address inclosed) at 12:00 PM. As requested you will be staying in the dorms for trainees, so bring your baggage with you. Training will last six months, but I reserve the right to send you on missions at any given time, if needed be.

Erwin Smith

Last time Jean had checked, that address was for a real estate company, but he guessed that was their cover story. Scouting Legion Agency was private, secretive. They worked only for the best, and hired only the best. Rumors on the internet said that they were more reliable than the president's secret service.

Jean wasn't the best, that much was certain. He had no experiences with anything that vaguely had to do with spying or being a private investigator, but he was fit and rather clever, and picked up on things quickly. He had found himself frantically doing research on human behavior and combat skills that weren't covered in the local Tae Kwon Do studios when he got the first letter, saying he had been approved to take a test in order to submit his official application.

There wasn't anything else Jean could actually see himself doing. College wasn't for him, and though he had briefly considered being a cop, it wasn't as appealing. And somehow, he had gotten in, at least for brief training which would most likely set him on his way to an actual career, and Jean found himself grinning crazily every time he thought about it. There wasn't a lot Jean got truly excited about, but this took the cake.

"Stop biting the inside of your cheek, man, you look like a dork."

Eren had earned himself an annoyed push to the shoulder, causing him to stumble into his sister Mikasa, who thankfully did not fall over and spill onto the sidewalk like a domino. The two Yeager siblings had also been granted an apprenticeship, and the three of them had gone to the same high school. While Eren was annoying and Mikasa was hot but undeniably not his type, somehow the small group maintained a sort-of friendship, enabling them to get along well enough to discuss applying with each other when Jean was unsure. It hadn't been a particularly long conversation.

"Armin said it was a good idea to join?" Mikasa had blinked in confusion. Jean nodded, remembering how the prodigy hacker had mentioned it to him when he had asked about it.

"Hell yeah! It must be then! It's settled; I'm gonna join the Scouting Legion!" Eren whooped.

"If you're going, I'm going," Mikasa had just sighed.

"C'mon Jean, you have to apply too! We both know that's what you want," Eren's eye brows were wiggling teasingly but his eyes were serious. For once, the piece of shit was right.

So there they were, entering a building that looked like a fucking real estate agency, not sure what they were expecting, but trying to look confident anyway. Or maybe that was just Jean. Eren was too reckless to be nervous and Mikasa never worried over anything except for the well being of her brother. Jean forced his hands not to tremble as he scanned the scene. It looked like a normal business place, with a quiet buzz of chatting and low rustle of papers being sorted, the occasional ding of the elevator reaching the first floor. His gaze fell on the front desk, wondering if that was where they should go to check in or something.

Fortunately for him, some higher power was on his side, because a young women with pretty red hair and a breezy smile had walked up to the trio and immediately said, "Punctual, good," The comment was mostly to herself but it was confirmation enough for Jean. "I'm Petra; Mikasa, I'm going to be your mentor."

Mikasa nodded slightly, looking the woman up and down as Petra continued, "You three can leave your bags with her-" she pointed to a short, blonde girl at the elevator, who gave a little wave when she saw that she was being looked at. "And I will take you and Eren up to the sixth floor, we're going to start training; Captain Levi is already waiting for you there Eren. Jean, I'm afraid you'll have to wait here for Marco."

The comment directed at Jean was hardly acknowledged. His head was reeling a bit. Captain Levi? Like an actual Captain captain? Why did Eren get a person of power to train him, I'm better than him by a long shot oh my freaking God... It just wasn't fair, and the teasing smirk on Eren's face as he walked off with his sister and her mentor wasn't helping his rapidly worsening mood. Why the fuck does Eren get some big hot-shot professional and I don't?!

In fact, Jean was so busy sulking angrily, lost in his thoughts, he almost missed his own mentor walking up to him. "What's wrong with your hair?" were the first words that Marco Bott ever said to him.

Jean, subconsciously running a hand through the two-tone strains, quickly scanned over the man's face for any flaws or imperfections to point out in the coldest way possible, partly to defend himself, partly to get out of making a real response on his hair. It was just the way he wore it. He decided that it was cool a few years ago and stuck with it, plain and simple. The way the man had said it made it seem dirty, like it was a shame just to look at it, must less speak it. Jean wasn't going to take any of that. "What's wrong with your eye?" he retorted, not feeling bad in the slightest. Jean was quite tactless, and his shitty mood didn't help anything.

He didn't look like someone you should mess with. The eye patch, which was what Jean had commented on, certainly indicated that; it could have been injured in a fight or a war, or maybe it was straight up gone, which was even more intense, a sign he had seen things that Jean might be witness to or even experience someday, things that left you bleeding and scarred. The fact that he was dressed in all black leather certainly helped to give clues of his character; a typical school bad boy, but older, more dangerous. Luckily Jean had had his fair share of dealing with those. Hell, he had been that one year. The crossed arms, the deep frown further added to that image. But what should have caught Jean's attention was his eye.

Most brown eyed people Jean knew had eyes that were bright, full of life and laughter. Sasha came to mind, his hyper, hungry friend who always knew how to make anyone laugh with a shitty joke or goofy prank. Marco's single eye was cold and unwavering, staring into his own, daring Jean to make another comment on the eye patch. It looked like it was drained of life, like a frozen lake- once so beautiful and picture perfect, a sight that everyone wanted to see, but then winter came, something making it empty, icy. The bitter wind caused others to shiver with one gaze.

Jean never got an answer, just a growl, and a shove to the shoulder, a spark of anger lighting up a flare in his eye. "Get in the elevator," he barked, and Jean glared at him, but obeyed, because this was his mentor, the one who was supposed to train him. He would have to get used to taking Marco's orders, just for the six months. Then he would be free of this bastard. Jean already didn't like him.

The elevator let out a pleasant ring when the two of them reached the sixth floor, trying to ease the tension in the elevator. "This is going to be your first test." Marco told him, grinning like a mad man, but it wasn't quite reaching his eyes.

On the sixth floor was the 3-D Maneuver Gear. Armin had told him about it. No one was quite sure how they would work out in real life, but the idea was it could keep up with a car in the middle of the crowded street from the air. No traffic, able to see everything... It was still being approved in the outside world. Some people didn't think they were ready. Some thought they would be too exposed, leaving them open for shots. There are two types of people.

Jean was part of the first group. Someone who didn't know what it was would be confused. Hell, Jean knew all about them and he was still struggling. Thankfully, a string of furious swears on his right told him he was doing better than some. Specifically Eren. That had to make Jean smile.

"C'mon Kirstein, is that the best you can do?"

The sneer was right in his ear, taunting and cruel. Jean snapped at him, unable to withhold his comeback of, "Shut up, will you? I'm concentrating, and at least I'm doing better than Yeager!" This much was true, as Eren couldn't stay still in the gear, and he kept flipping over. Jean was stable, only a bit of a wobble here and there when he glanced the wrong way at the wrong time. He was confident that he was going to pass the so-called 'first test'.

"Yeah, but I'm not expecting much from Yeager." Marco said coolly, stepping back in order to take in Jean with his firm look. He was determined to met his gaze, his jaw set. The only problem with that was Jean wasn't a very good multitasker. How was he supposed to focus on staring down Marco as well as stay upright? Jean looked away in annoyance, figuring that it would be better to succeed with the Maneuver Gear than to win a staring contest with his mentor.

Suddenly there was a shout, and Jean looked the wrong way. Eren had mastered it, and Jean found himself upside down. He had been distracted by his friend's jubilant outburst. So he did the first thing that came to mind.

"FUCK YOU YEAGER."

It just sort of slipped out. Every time something went wrong, Jean always blamed Eren, and would yell at him. Sometimes Eren would yell back. Sometimes he would punch him instead, and a fist fight would break out. Mikasa would scold them later, but it would be worth it. He wasn't sure if it was worth it this time however. Marco wouldn't be amused.

But there was laughter.

That was probably Eren.

But it was to his right.

Jean opened his eyes, not even realizing they were closed until then. It was a sight to see. Marco was cracking a smile, giggles making their way through without his consent. His eyes were warm, almost. Maybe lukewarm, certainly kinder and more open. Jean felt his mouth hanging in a perfect little 'o', silently observing the man as he laughed at his folly. It didn't feel mean though. Jean wasn't offended, and that might have been the strangest thing of all.

Switches flipped. The light died from his eyes. Marco wasn't smiling anymore. "Get back up."

So he did.