"You know she cares about you, and wants what's best for you... right?"

"Yeah. I know..."

Eren had his chin cupped in his right hand, and was staring out the window- watching other cars and the trees pass by- as Günther drove and Janis Joplin's 'Piece Of My Heart' played over the radio.

"I want you to come on, come on

Come on, come on

And take it!

Take another little piece of my heart now, baby

(Oh, oh, break it!)

Break another little bit of my heart now, darling, yeah, yeah

(Oh, oh, have a!)

Have another little bit of my heart now, baby

But you know you got it

If it makes you feel good

Oh, yes indeed

"Hey. More espresso, less depress-o," Günther grabbed a Mint Condition cooler from one of the drink carriers, and held it out to Eren. "Listen, kid. What you're going through right now... I know it ain't easy. Eld, Auruo, Petra, and I have been through the same thing, after all. We lost our parents- entire family in Auruo's case- and were taken in by a couple who couldn't conceive any children of their own. After FIVE YEARS of trying..."

After a moment's hesitation, the boy took the cup, and Günther continued, "I know we've had this conversation four times before but, this time, it's even more important because it may be the last. For a while, anyway... So listen up-"

He pulled into his designated parking space, and turned to Eren who returned his worried gaze, "- I love you, Eren... Out of all of our siblings, you are by far my favorite."

"Uhm... So are you, Günther," Eren blushed, and pulled the collar of his hoodie up to his mouth. "Y- you and Eld will visit us, though... right?"

Günther could see the tears welling up in his younger brother's eyes, sighed, and pulled him into his side, "Of course we will. When we can, anyway... Let's try not to worry about that at this point in time, though, and just try to enjoy the last nine months we have together. Maybe even kick this school year's ass while we're at it... Alright?"

"... Alright..."

"Sweet. Looks like we've got fifteen minutes to kill... Why don't we see if we can find Eld, Auruo, and Petra and chill in the cafeteria?"

"Y- yeah. Sure..."

briiiiii-IIIIIING

"I'd like to ask the whole class to give a warm welcome to Duncan Xerxes Absalom Wu Fan Cassius-"

'Looks like I'm not the only new kid around here...'

Eren threw a quick glance at the boy standing on the left side of their Biology teacher, Abigail Dreakford. Duncan was pretty good looking. For another guy, anyway... He was tall, and had blonde hair with red highlights styled into a spiky quiff, cognac eyes, and a chiseled jawline. The most interesting feature about him, though, was his skin. You could call it pumpkin, tangerine, or burnt sienna, but let's face it- it was ORANGE. Not to mention scaly...

"- Draco Draconus Quetzalcoatl-"

'That's one Hell of a long name he's got...'

"Uh... Yeah. Just Duncan's fine, Miss Dreakford."

"Oh, alright... Next, I'd like to introduce Eren Carlson Jaeger."

Multiple pairs of eyes were now on Eren, but only one he could really feel... It was a pleasant feeling, though. Curious. Friendly. Warm...

"Take a seat, boys."

"Hey, Duncan! Sit here with Kenny! He doesn't have a lab partner!"

This came from a girl with olive skin, dark brown hair, and hazelnut eyes, and the boy seated behind her scowled, "Yeah. Thanks, Isabel..."

"Eren! You're sitting here with me!"

Both boys cautiously approached their respective lab partner, and Eren eavesdropped on the conversation between Duncan and Kenny as Isabel flipped her sketchbook open. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see her glance at him before adding more lines and shapes and realized she was drawing HIM...

"Hi. Duncan."

"... Ken Rogers."

Eren could practically hear Duncan smile as he responded with, "Kenny Rogers, huh? Know how to hold them? Know when to fold them?," and couldn't help but crack a small smile himself at the reference.

"No. Not even a little..."

CLANG

"Like reptiles and insects, amphibians are ectotherms and cannot internally regulate their body temperature," Miss Dreakford explained as she went around the classroom and set a tray with a frog on each lab table, and Eren inquisitively poked his and Isabel's in the belly. "What we used to call 'cold blooded'."

"Why'd we stop? Did the amphibians object to being labeled 'cold blooded'?"

Snickers could be heard throughout the room at Isabel's joke, and Eren joined in until they were all silenced by the girl sitting across from him slamming her hands down on her table, "No, Miss Dreakford! This is so wrong for so many reasons! Beyond the obvious animal cruelty issues, students have a right-"

"Uh- Jenna? That is enough..."

"- No! A duty to refuse to do-"

"Yoo-hoo! That's quite enough!"

"- forcing us to mutilate these helpless, innocent creatures!"

Eren heard a wistful sigh behind him, and turned his head to see Duncan staring at Jenna lovingly as she continued with her rant. He raised an eyebrow at him, 'Are they already together, or does hehave a crush on her?'

"And not offering us a choice in the matter is a clearly-"

Jenna's left wrist bumped into the corner of her tray, and Eren could hear a warbling noise as her 'frog' miraculously came back to life. His eyes widened, 'W- wait... That's not a-!'

There was a gasp, and Eren turned his head once more to find Duncan standing up and locking eyes with the creature. His eyes... They were no longer cognac, but bright green with a vertical slit through the middle!

'Wha... What the Hell is he?!'

Eren continued to watch the other boy as he formulated a plan- his eyes turning back to cognac, and taking on a more human appearance, 'What's he going to do?'

Needless to say, everyone was shocked when Duncan picked up his and Kenny's tray, screamed, and yelled, "Oh, no! The water boarding Kermit!," before jumping around the aisle and causing his frog to fly into the air. "He's a jumper! Look out!"

"Hey! Hey! Hey!," Miss Dreakford said in a warning tone, but she as well as the rest of the class could only watch as Duncan fell to the floor- his hand shooting out at the last minute to snatch Jenna's 'frog' from her tray.

WHUMP

Most of the class erupted into laughter while Eren, Isabel, and Kenny stared at each other in shock and confusion, and Jenna glared down at Duncan, "Are you done? What is up with you? You make Troy look mature!"

SREEEEEEEEEEECH

"STOP IT! SETTLE DOWN, EVERYONE!," Miss Dreakford dragged her nails down the chalkboard when the bell rang.

briiiiii-IIIIIING

The class groaned as they got out of their seats, and shot Duncan dirty looks as they walked past him out the door. All of them... except for Eren, Isabel, and Kenny. Eren offered him a hand, "Hey... You alright?"

"Y- yeah. Thanks for the hand..."

"Nicely done, man!," Kenny complimented, and Duncan shrugged.

"Just... don't mention it, alright? Bad joke. That's all..."