Chapter 2: Calling Now

He had taken the pills-yes.

And yet, a few hours afterwards, he felt worst than before. With the sensation of the world blurring and spinning at the same time, Eren decided to stumble into a nearby bathroom. Closing the door shut-not even bothering to turn the lock, the boy turned the cold metallic handle of the faucet. With both hands shaking, he splashed the icy water onto his face, doing his best to cool down the nape of his neck up.

It was useless.

Eren's temperature didn't change, and he had completely drenched his shirt's neckline trailing down to his chest. The brunette turned off the faucet even though his body was still heating up. Sweating profusely, he could feel his whole body aching to be released from the horrid sensation of pain. It was like when he had eaten a whole chili pepper raw in a dare during his childhood days. During that time, his tongue wouldn't cool down and every minute felt like a scalding hell. That was when the soldier turned his head to the side and caught site of the bathtub. Realizing that Eren's control over his body was failing him, the soldier feared that perhaps soon he would be engulfed in the sensation of flames. His eyes drooped with every second that he spent standing there, body facing the mirror.

Without a second thought, the titan shifter paced towards the ceramic tub. However halfway there, his legs gave way and he fell onto the floor-Eren's palms barely clinging onto the side of the tub. With the feelings in his legs gone, Eren grind his teeth and swung himself into the smooth container as best as he could. His hands were trembling so much, the brunette could barely keep himself steady as he basically collapsed in the white concavity. The titan shifter's breathing became weaker and more erratic, but Eren wouldn't give up. Pinning all of his strength into his right arm, the boy lunged at the tub handle labeled cold, turning it with all of his strength.

And with that last gesture, the soldier's hands went limp as Eren's eyelids sluggishly came to a close.

Jean was sick as hell with the way the squad leaders were screaming at every single soldier in sight. With the pressure from the higher ups, and the heat frying their brains, no one could actually even perform at top quality-especially with an open field of dirt for miles. Luckily Jean had already finished his rounds and was done with his day's work. Although the boy with his tawny hair had been set to go eat, he felt the urge to bathe first before anything else. His clothes were drenched from sweat and not to mention the horrid body odor.

Pulling out a towel from his room, the soldier walked towards the nearest bathroom. Luckily Jean had been fortunate enough to have been given a sleeping quarter located near the infirmary which was a mere stride's turn from the water closet. Although it was annoying at times when he had to hear people come in and out, he enjoyed the fact that he felt as if he was never alone.

Having reached the entrance of the bathroom, Jean lazily pulled at the handle pushing the door open. Not paying attention, the soldier quickly stepped into the small chamber wanting to get himself washed up but only found himself lose his footing. The soldier held back the urge to yell at the sudden change of posture as he slid onto his side. The towel that he had been carrying flew into the air and eventually landed on his head, blocking his path of vision.

"Ah-what the hell?!" Jean mustered as he yanked the fuzzy cloth away from his face. Had someone flooded the toilet?

Jean's whole bottom was wet all the way to his shoulder as he lay sprawled on the floor. The tawny haired boy looked down at the linoleum and saw that the ground was covered in a thin layer of cool water. As his eyes trailed passed the waste pot, confirming that it had not overflowed, his vision came to focus on the bath tub. It was spilling over. Too tired to complain about whatever jerk was stupid enough to forget to turn off the bathing faucet, Jean got up with a sigh as he placed his towel on the open space provided by the empty sink. It was fortunate that the bathroom chamber was built a few inches lower than the wooden board pathways of the hall. No water leaked out.

Stepping towards the ceramic tub, the soldier noticed the bobbing of a dark brown object on the surface of the water.

'Perhaps it's the bastard that didn't turn off the faucet-that jackass,' thought Jean.

Annoyed, the tawny headed soldier spoke, "Hey! What do you think you're doing?"

Getting closer to the person in the tub, Jean reached out a hand to turn off the faucet. However, just as the soldier came in contact with the metal bar, he realized who it was that was in the tub. Eren was completely clothed as he laid on his back leaning to the side of the white concavity for support in what Jean would barely call a "sitting position." The titan shifter's head was faced down in the water as if he was holding his breath anticipating to scare anyone who would come in. The tawny head's anger began kindling as he thought of just how much he hated Eren and his little remarks about his fantasy future of traveling the world with his friends. The soldier glowered beginning to come to the conclusion that this must have been an elaborate joke the brunette had conjured.

One thing was for sure, it hadn't scared Jean.

"Dude, stop joking around! This is one of the most stupidest pranks you have ever attempted."

However, the titan shifter didn't get up, nor lift his head. Jean stared at Eren as the brunette's head continued to bob rhythmically up and down on the surface of the calm water. Jean was was tired. He had just finished training and doing his duties and he was not going to deal with a hard headed brat.

Especially one that he had always looked down at.

"Get up bastard," Jean said sternly as his eyes bore down at the titan shifter.

With a huff, the soldier reached down to the male still in the bathtub and attempted to yank at Eren's shirt. But to the soldier's surprise, when his arm plunged into the clear film his hand instinctively flung back at itself.

The water was bitterly cold having felt like it stung his flesh.

Suddenly the tawny head's trail of anger and hate towards the titan shifter came to a halt. Looking down at Eren, Jean's mouth went dry. Fear began to seep into the soldier as he lunged forth and pulled Eren's head out of the clear numbing film.

"What the fuck- Are you trying to suicide?" shouted Jean, but Eren didn't answer.

Jean gaped at his rivaled enemy, the titan shifter's complexion pale with a tinge of blue and purple bordering the boy's lips and eyes.

Eren was unconscious.

Cursing between effort and struggle, the tawny head soldier dove both arms into the uncomfortably cold liquid and dragged the bastard out.

He couldn't believe this was happening.

Jean helping Eren.