This is just an idea that's been running around my head for a while. Bit of a warning, things are probably going to get dark.
Levi pulled into his designated parking spot at exactly 8:05 a.m., he proceeded to grab his messenger bag as he gently closed the door to his car. Taking a moment to check his appearance in the glass window, he combed a hand through his smooth dark hair, adjusted his grey tie and smoothed out his black vest. Once he'd made sure his white button up remained spotless he began his brief walk to the hospital's staff entrance. Getting through security he made his way up two flights of stairs and down a long, windowless hallway. He scanned his ID card over the sensor over the door handle. Two beeps and a small flash of green light confirmed his authorization, opening the thick iron door.
.
"Dr. Levi Ackerman, D.O., age 30, received his license at age 20, he's been in practice for a decade and has a very high success rate with his patients. Says here he's fluent in five languages-English, French, Japanese, Spanish, and German. He's got more than outstanding work methods and ideals, he's very much a leader though his social skills aren't always the best, he's a Capricorn who enjoys long walks on the beach and cuddling after sex," Hange smirked tossing the brown folder onto the large wooden table. The folder skid across the surface before stopping on the opposite end of the table where Erwin sat. "Don't really care for these details, Erwin. I'm just glad Zachary finally got rid of that dick Balto," Hange leaned back in her seat.
"Funny, I thought you loved details," Erwin looked over the sprawled out paperwork, "seeing since you practically have an orgasm every time you're working."
"Only the ones I find. Everything else doesn't have the same appeal," she said through a smug smile. "Don't get me wrong, I'm really looking forward to studying our new colleague up close and oh-so personal," she looked up at the row of monitors on the left side of the room, spotting a new face at the nurse's station, "Speak of the devil."
Erwin looked up at the screens just in time to see the new psychiatrist walking toward the break room. He turned to Hange, giving her a stern glance, "Behave yourself, Zoe."
"Why of course, Dr. Smith! I'd never think of doing anything rash," she said in the sweetest voice she could produce.
Levi took a moment to breathe. This was his first day at the Garrison Psychiatric Hospital. He was new to this; the country, the city, the job. While he had worked as a psychiatrist for years - specializing in child and adolescent trauma - this was all new to him. Working at a teen ward in a major mental health facility instead of having kids come to him of their own free will would no doubt come with more turbulence. At Garrison in particular it was a more common for patience to be admitted after attempting suicide or attacking another person. All that wasn't what worried Levi however. No, the kids he could handle; he wanted the challenge. What plagued his mind were his new coworkers. He didn't know much about them, other than the small summary posted on the hospital website.
Levi knocked on the door, waiting for a response. He didn't get one. Instead the door swung open. There only a foot away from Levi was a behemoth of man. Blonde, blue eyes, uncomfortably small eyebrows. He obviously took care of himself, his carved physique filling his clothes quite well. The man was attractive despite the eyebrows, Levi thought.
"Hello, you must be Dr. Ackerman, it's a pleasure. I'm Erwin Smith and that's...," Erwin stepped back, allowing Levi a better look at the room. Seated at what looked like a cheap Ikea dining room table was a woman. Her hair was held in a high ponytail, with symmetrical bangs outlining her face. She wore sleek glasses, behind those a pair of devious brown eyes focused on Levi.
She's analyzing me. Levi fought the urge to roll his eyes.
"...Dr. Zoe Hange." Erwin stretched out his hand. Levi just stared at it, he wasn't a fan of physical contact, especially this early in the day with someone he was just meeting. Levi thought back to some situations where he let his obsession with cleanliness get him into trouble. Deciding it best to place his hygienic inhibitions aside, Levi breathed deeply, slowly took Erwin's hand and shook it as quickly as humanly possible. "Yes, good morning. It's good to finally meet you both." Levi gave them what he thought was a slightly forced smile which was perceived as more of a restrained smirk.
Levi made it to the table before being captured in an inhumanly strong embrace from behind. "Welcome aboard, Levi! Here's to hoping you enjoy the job just as much as we do!" Hange lifted Levi, his legs dangled as the woman shook him violently. Levi's eyes narrowed, twitching slightly as he tensed trying not to scream at this clamoring, idiotic woman.
I already hate it here.
"Hange, put him down. Sorry, she can be a bit, eh, energetic," Erwin tilted his head slightly.
"Right," once Hange set him down, Levi smoothed out his clothing, combed a hand through his hair and readjusted his tie. "I'd like to get to work as soon as possible, if you don't mind."
Erwin and Hange exchanged cryptic looks before turning to Levi. Cracking a questionable smile, Hange made her way over to Levi smacking his shoulder.
The hell is her problem with personal space.
"So we," she said gesturing to the three of them, "are but the humble underlings of Dr. Zachary, he's the head Psych here. But let's save that for later." Hange finally steps away claiming a seat on the edge of the table. Levi made a mental note to never eat his lunch here.
"Yes, that aside, Zachary decided to give you some time to adjust, so you'll be taking over all the cases Balto had," Erwin walked over to the table gathering a small stack of folders.
"How does taking all the cases give me time to adjust?" Levi's tone was dry, giving off a feeling of boredom.
Hange hopped off the table, "Balto was an idiot who didn't know the first thing about psychiatry, teenagers, or anything in general for that matter. No one could stand him, so most of the patients he was assigned to switched to me or Erwin." She said walking closer to Levi. "Except for a few of them who just didn't care either way."
"Didn't care?" Levi stepped back, trying to put as much distance between himself and that irritating woman.
"Most of them had never even met Balto as they refused to cooperate. Generally speaking they couldn't care less which of us they were assigned to," Erwin added.
"I see," Levi said.
Hange narrowed her eyes at him, "Hope you don't find that unnerving. Though do feel free to ask for our help if and when you should need to."
Levi flicked his eyes meeting her gaze, "I'm all for the challenge."
"Alright then. I gotta say I'm a bit jealous, you've got some interesting kids," said Hange.
Erwin made his way closer to his colleagues, "Armin Arlert, diagnosis pending. Admitted two weeks ago by his grandfather after having a panic episode in which he threatened several of his classmates with a staple gun. Jean Kirstein, oppositional defiant disorder. Admitted a month ago by his parents, after a physical confrontation with his father. According to his parents that was a common occurrence in their household. Sasha Braus, bulimia. Admitted six weeks ago by her school after being found - for the fourth time - in the bathroom vomiting; some fifteen bags of potato chips found in her possession along with the pencil she used to cause herself to gag. Annie Leonhardt, suspected conduct disorder. Admitted by the county juvenile correctional facility after she assaulted the janitor, two guards andher cellmate. Finally, Eren Jaeger, diagnosis pending. Admitted a week ago. He was placed here to be psychologically assessed for his upcoming trial," Erwin handed Levi each file one by one, as he summarized them.
"What is he on trial for?" Levi asked, sifting through the papers in Eren's file.
"The murder of Grisha Jaeger, his father."
Levi shot his gaze up to Erwin, "Doesn't the psychological assessment of an accused criminal take place in the correctional facility they're being held in?"
"Usually," Erwin said plainly.
"He called emergency services and confessed. Just like that," Hange snapped her fingers, "they sent a car down to make sure it wasn't some drunk idiot pulling a bad prank. They found Grisha Jaeger dead in the kitchen, twenty-three stab wounds in his chest. They said he was dead by the third blow - talk about overkill."
"Hange," Erwin gave her another stern look.
"Yeah, yeah I got it. Sheesh, can't have a little fun, can I?" She focused her gaze back on Levi, "Anyway, they found Eren cradling his blacked out sister in his arms in the living room. They were both covered in blood. Report said that he knocked his sister out after she found the body and freaked," Hange sighed. "Why can't I have a case this interesting? Hey, Levi, care for a trade?!"
Levi glared at Hange, irritation clear on his features. "That still doesn't explain why they've sent him here."
"We don't really know, either. Guess he's got a really good lawyer," Hange shrugged.
"Alright, it's about time for wake-up. We should get going. Dr. Acker-"
Levi raised his hand, "Just Levi is fine."
Erwin nodded, "Levi, I'll show you to your office, and introduce you to the day staff." Levi gathered the files and followed Erwin out the door. Erwin led with large strides making his way to the primary nurse's station. Levi was then introduced to an array of people, most of which he paid no attention to. After introductions were in order Erwin provided Levi with a tour of the adolescent ward. Going from the girl's wing to the boy's to the second nurse's station. There Erwin swiped his ID card over a sensor like the one to the main entrance and two heavy, wooden doors came open. "This wing is reserved for patients with critical cases. This is where a few of your patients are."
"One being the Jaeger kid," Levi said absentmindedly.
"Along with Jean and Annie, yes," Erwin continued down the hall to the other set of heavy wooden doors at the end. He swiped his ID again this time punching in a code on the dial pad. The doors opened slowly, locking into place once they were completely apart. "They should be heading out for breakfast soon, might as well open the doors for them," Erwin added seeing Levi staring at the doors, "we've got a very structured system, the schedule will always be up on the board outside of the day room. Of course you can call in the kids at any time in the day." They kept moving, stepping out of the critical wing back to the opening where the first nurse's station was. Erwin continued to another set of large wooden doors directly ahead of the previous doorway. "Looks like no one was on line-of-sight last night," he said, swiping his card once more.
"Line-of-sight?"
"Ah, right you're new to the environment, don't know the lingo yet. Line-of-sight calls for a patient to put under twenty-four hour observation, usually after they've exhibited potentially harmful behavior. Kids on line-of-sight sleep in the day room where they are quite literally in the line of sight of the nurse's station. Seeing as there is no one in there, it would seem the kids had a good night. First time in a while actually." Erwin pushed the doors to the walls, kicking the stoppers in place, "This is where the kids spend most of their day: in group sessions, lunch, breakfast, class and other planned activities."
Levi flinched but quickly composed himself, "So, this is a multipurpose room? They do all those things in this one room?"
"Yes."
"How often is this room cleaned?" Levi took a few steps back from the doorway.
"Everyday. It's part of their collective schedules to clean the day room at the end of the day, why do you ask?" Erwin stepped out of the day room after flicking on the lights.
"Then it's only cleaned once a...," Levi felt nauseated, just the thought of all the filth lurking in there made his eye twitch. He shook his head slightly, the same disinterested expression still plastered to his face, "And my office is located where?"
"Over this way," Erwin walked past the nurse's station, towards the girl's wing. There were three doors evenly spaced out just before entering the wing. Erwin gestured to the door in the middle, "That'll be your office, I'm the one on the left and the one on the right ..." It better not be four-eyes' office. "...is a supply closet. Hange's office is over by the boy's wing. Like she said, if you need anything feel free to ask. I'll be taking my leave now," Erwin gave Levi a confident smile before disappearing into his office.
Stepping inside, Levi gave the barren room once over, "Much work to be done, but this ought to be interesting."
.
.
.
Eren lay silently on his bed, staring out the window. He'd done this everyday since he got here, one could say his sleep schedule wasn't the healthiest. He'd fall asleep incredibly late only to wake up an hour or two later. He didn't mind, though, watching the sunrise was better than having the nightmares. If it were up to him he'd never sleep again, but his body could care less about his wishes. Though seeing the little sleep he did get, maybe his body wasn't entirely wrong for faulting him. He couldn't lie, physically speaking he felt like shit.
Eren didn't have a roommate; they said he was 'a danger to those around him' and that 'he should be monitored at all times.' And they did. They had him sleep in the day room for the past six days, but last night Petra, the charge nurse, told him he could sleep in his room if kept his good behavior up. He quite liked Petra, she was one of the few people who didn't look at him with untrusting glares, talk shit about him when they thought he was out of earshot (he usually wasn't), or treat him like scum in general. She was kind to him.
As he watched the sky Eren faintly picked up the sound of someone speaking outside.
"Wing...reserved...patients critical..."
Dr. Smith? The hell is a doctor doing over here?
His curiosity triggered, Eren moved to the door, placing his ear against it.
"This is where a few of your patients are." He heard Dr. Smith say.
"One being the Jaeger kid." This was another voice, one he hadn't heard before. The voice was male, it had a certain dominance to it, but was still very smooth. Eren found himself wanting to hear it again. Unfortunately for him, he didn't; the only thing he picked up were light footsteps on the carpeted floor as they moved farther and farther away.
Eren walked back to his bed. Replaying the brief dialogue he'd heard, trying to keep that voice in his mind. His eyes widened once he processed what was said.
'This is where a few of your patients are.' Dr. Smith had said.
'One being the Jaeger kid.' The other said. Meaning that the owner of that voice-the voice Eren craved to hear-was the new psychiatrist. The new psychiatrist that just so happened to be assigned to his case. "Guess I'm finally starting my sessions, today," Eren bit his lip trying to contain the huge smile coming onto his face.