A/N: Hello again! I know it's been a while, so I've decided to update before school starts again. Again, this is an actor AU, so the characters have different personalities, varying from almost identical to the complete opposite.

Don't worry, the older characters will appear in the next chapter! But to appease you guys, I've already introduced one of them in this chapter. Guess who? ;)

Chapter 2: That Day

"What time is it?"

"Time for you to get a watch."

"I'm pretty sure people back then didn't have watches. At least that's what the director says."

"Get a compass then."

"I think you mean a sundial..."

"Geez Eren, stop being such a know-it-all."

"It's common knowledge, Armin!"

"Can you two shut up for a second?" Mikasa snapped.

The three children were sitting in their usual spot, at the meadow underneath the giant tree. Mikasa was looking at her script and was sitting in between Eren and Armin, who had just finished lunch and were laying on the grass, staring at the cloudless sky.

The two boys became silent, but a second later...

"Well Eren, you and your 'common knowledge' can go-"

Mikasa slammed down her script in annoyance. "Didn't I tell you guys to shut your mouths?"

"Only for a second," Eren quipped. "Which is exactly what we did."

"You need to be more specific," Armin replied back. He and Eren shared a high five while Mikasa buried her head between her legs and muttered incomprehensible words.

Armin leaned in towards Mikasa, who was unfortunately seated between the two boys.

"Did I hear you say 'actually impossible'? That's not very nice."

Mikasa threw her hands up in the air. "I give up. You two idiots can go figure out the schedule yourselves, be late for everything and get the director mad at you." She stood up, brushing the grass off her legs before setting off for an unknown destination.

"Wait," Eren called out, "where are you going? You know we're just kidding around!"

"Let's see how 'kidding around' gets you when you don't even know when and where the next scene is!" Mikasa yelled back. She began sprinting away from the two boys towards the staff tents.

Eren and Armin shared a look with each other before scrambling up from the ground. They relied entirely on Mikasa for their schedule, since she was the only one well-prepared (and willing) to carry around the package of papers all day.

"Wait for us, Mika!" The two boys reached the staff area and scurried between the tents looking for Mikasa. But she had disappeared without a trace.

"We're sorry!" Armin called out.

Eren joined in. "Please forgive us! I know Armin's a douche, but-"

"What do you mean, I'm a douche?"

"Well, you are!"

"If I'm a douche, that makes you a super douche."

"Well then, you're the master douche!"

"Excuse me? Who's the one who thinks he's such a know-it-all with your 'common knowledge'?"

"That has nothing to do with being a douche!"

"Yes it does!"

"Do you even know what douche means?"

"Of course I do! It's another name for Eren Jaeger!"

"You asshole!"

Armin gasped in horror. "You just said a bad word! I'm telling!"

Eren scoffed. "On who?"

"On - EEEEK!"

Eren was about to make fun of Armin's squealing, but he quickly joined in as freezing ice water was dumped over their heads.

"Oh my God! It's so cold!" Armin screamed, wrapping his arms around his drenched clothes.

"Who - even?" Eren's teeth were chattering as he desperately tried to warm himself up.

"Serves you right!" a voice above their heads called out.

Eren and Armin peered up on the roof of the tent. Mikasa's head poked out over the canvas, and she stuck her tongue out before unceremoniously dumping another bucket of water on her friends.

"What - the - hell!" Eren sputtered. "Stop it!"

"Not unless you apologize for being smartasses."

"Bad word!" Armin pointed at Mikasa accusingly.

"So? I know you were going to say an even worse word before I interrupted you."

Armin opened his mouth to reply. "Don't even," Mikasa warned with a dangerous glint in her grey eyes. "Say sorry or else you'll be getting another bucketful of water." She dragged out another bucket from behind her and began swaying it dangerously over their heads.

"How many does she even have?" Eren muttered to Armin under his breath.

"I don't even know..." Armin whimpered back.

"I'm waiting..."

Eren and Armin looked at each other fearfully. They had heard that voice before. And it didn't end pleasantly.

"We're very sorry," the two boys said in unison.

"For what?" Eren could feel a couple water droplets land on his shoulder.

"For being a smartass." "For messing with you," Armin and Eren replied at the same time.

Mikasa pondered their forced apology for a moment before nodding and lifting the bucket back onto the tent. "Okay then. You guys are forgiven. The bucket's getting pretty heavy anyway."

The two boys sighed in relief. Potential disaster averted.

"But can you help me get down from here?"

Armin cocked his eyebrow in confusion. "Eh? How did you get up there in the first place?"

"There was a ladder, but while I was dumping water on you guys, someone must have taken the ladder cause it's gone now," Mikasa said sheepishly.

Armin smacked his forehead. "Miss Smarty Pants is stuck on the tent and needs our help," Eren chortled.

"Quit it!" Mikasa snapped. "I still have my bucket of water."

"Only one," Eren shot back.

"And you guys could always just move away, since your friend is stuck in that one spot."

Eren, Armin and Mikasa turned their heads towards their new visitor. A lanky guy with ash blonde hair stood a few feet away from them, his hands stuffed into his grey hoodie worn over his military uniform.

Eren immediately recognized the teenager. "Muffin Top!" he yelled as he ran up to the blonde. "Have you been spying on us?"

The guy's eye twitched at his nickname. "Oi, how many times have I told you that it's Jean?" He ruffled Eren's hair. "I came to see what all the commotion was about, since you guys are so fricking loud. And what's she doing up there?" He gestured towards the stranded girl.

"Mika was dumb enough to get stuck on the roof without a way down," Armin jeered.

"I told you, someone took the ladder!" Mikasa snapped back angrily.

"Alright, calm down. You guys are actually worse than your older counterparts, if that's even possible," Jean grumbled. He scratched his head, pondering for a moment before nodding. He held out his arms towards Mikasa. "Jump."

"What?" Mikasa's face turned bright red. "No way! What if you miss?"

Jean rolled his eyes. "Like I would miss. You're literally jumping a foot down. And I promise to catch you."

"But-"

"Do you want to stay there all day or not?"

Mikasa stared at Jean's outstretched arms, pursing her lips. A couple seconds passed, and just as Jean thought it was hopeless, Mikasa sighed as she positioned herself towards the edge of the tent. "Fine. But if I get injured somehow, you're paying my bills."

Jean smirked. "Typical American."

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

The girl sighed, and jumped. Less than a second later, Jean caught her easily and brought her safely down to the ground.

"Thanks, I guess," Mikasa mumbled under her breath.

"Thanks for sounding so grateful. By the way, try not to climb any more tents in the future. Your sister is going to go nuts if she finds out. And she'll have my head along with yours."

Mikasa paled at the reference to her sister. "Got it."

"Alright then." Jean stretched his arms. "Nice seeing you guys. Stay out of trouble, Mika, promise?" He held out a hand to the girl.

"O-okay," Mikasa stammered as she pinky-promised Jean.

"Cool. You too, Eren. Don't forget to go to the Shiganshina set!" Jean called back as he began walking away from the trio.

Eren watched Jean's retreating figure. He looked at Mikasa and raised his eyebrows.

"Are you blushing?"

Mikasa's eyes widened. "What? Of course not!" she growled, but she covered her face with her red scarf.

"You are!" Armin exclaimed. "Someone has a crush on Muffin Top!"

"I do not! Take that back!"

"Never!"

Jean shook his head as he heard the kids he had just left yelling in the distance. He could almost hear his friends yelling in a similar fashion on the other side of the tents. Actually...he could hear them.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Eating a sandwich, what else?"

"You're eating MY sandwich."

"Well, it's mine now, bitch."

"Give it to me. I'm starving!"

"Could you two stop yelling in my ear?"

"Not until he gives my sandwich back!"

Jean grimaced as his friends' voices grew louder and louder.

More loud smartasses to deal with...

"Are you guys ready?"

"Huh?" Eren yawned and opened his eyes. "Yeah, I guess so."

The director looked at him doubtfully. "Boy, stop looking so sleepy. You're supposed to be all angry and angsty and crying for your mom."

"No problem. Yawning makes my eyes water. I don't think I'll even need the eye droppers this time." Eren hopped off the chair and began heading toward the camera crew.

"Really, Eren?" Mikasa said, running to catch up with him. "You don't need to be so snarky all the time."

"But it's so fun!" Eren whined.

His friend sighed. "Just stick to your computer nerdiness."

Eren pouted. "Excuse you. My bro says computer science is where it's at."

"Like I care about silly zeros and ones and a whole bunch of random numbers."

"That's called binary code."

"Like I said, no one cares."

"Hurry up, kids!" Hannes yelled from the set. "You two are slower than my great-grandmother!"

Mikasa looked puzzled. "Wouldn't she be dead by now?"

"Exactly my point!" Hannes hollered back.

Eren and Mikasa made disgusted faces, and they ran up to Hannes.

"Alright," the blonde man said, "I'm supposed to be carrying you two like sacks of potatoes, so I apologize in advance if I accidentally drop you on the ground."

"Shouldn't you be stronger than that?" Mikasa questioned him. "I mean, we're only eleven."

Hannes scratched his chin. "I suppose so, but carrying eighty pounds on each arm is quite a task, especially at my age. Also, Eren?"

Eren looked up at the man. "Yeah?"

"Try not to kick or punch me too hard," Hannes said wryly. He flicked Eren's forehead, earning a yelp from the boy. "I don't want to be left with another bruise. Armin's already hit me enough as is."

Eren frowned in disappointment. "But I was really looking forward to that!"

"Try it, and I'll drop you."

"...fine. You win this round."

Hannes grinned. "Sounds like a plan."

"Ow!" Eren winced as the nurse swiped an alcohol wipe across his scratched arms.

"Sorry kid, but your cuts need to be disinfected," the nurse said briskly. He threw the wipe into the trash can, and grabbed a patch of gauze, medical tape, and a tube of ointment. "Who knows what kind of germs are on the ground."

At that moment Armin came running into the tent searching left and right for his friend. At last he found Eren and ran towards him, Mikasa following behind at a leisurely pace. "Eren! Are you alright?"

"I would be, if it wasn't for him!" Eren raised his arm, and hissed in pain as the air washed over his freshly disinfected cuts.

Armin and Mikasa looked over at where Eren was about to point, and saw Hannes sitting nearby holding an ice pack to his head.

Hannes raised his free arm in defense. "It was an accident, I swear!"

"How hard is it to throw me onto a mat?"

"I was dazed because you bopped me in the head harder than I expected. I'm expecting a mild concussion from your hit, Eren."

"Only mild?"

Armin looked bewildered. "Uh...what happened, exactly?"

"Mr. Big Shot here was supposed to throw me onto the mat, but he threw me over the mat instead. And I ate dirt." Eren gestured toward his bloodied chin and limbs.

"I told you I was sorry."

"Sorry doesn't cut it!"

While Eren and Hannes were bickering, Mikasa poked Armin in the ribs. "The scene turned out really well though. Both of them were crying actual tears from the pain."

Eren overheard Mikasa and turned towards her. "But I was hurt!"

"At least you guys don't have to redo the scene again. I think you'd appreciate not having to be thrown onto the mat a dozen times."

Eren groaned. "Whatever. Just bring me back lunch."

Mikasa nodded. "Will do. And after, we can go to the training grounds set and watch the older actors."

Eren and Armin noticeably brightened up. "Yeah!"

"We're here," Mikasa said to her friends as she directed them to the training grounds.

Eren looked around. Everything was brown. The wooden cabins, the fences surrounding the lower training grounds, the dusty ground, even the military uniform jackets adorned by the 104th squad actors.

Eren looked at the older actors in awe. They looked so professional, standing and looking like actual soldiers. In front of the trainees were several higher ranked officers, one of whom was shouting.

"...We now begin the enlistment ceremony for the 104th Trainee Corps!" a bald man with deep sunken eyes was bellowing. "I am Keith Shadis, and I had the misfortune to be assigned to train you bastards. And I'm not here to welcome you at all!" Eren saw the bald man scanning the two hundred or so actors with a look of disdain. "Right now, you're mere cattle, fit for nothing but Titan food!"

"Wow," Armin whispered to Eren and Mikasa, "he's really good."

"I know, right?" Mikasa whispered back. "Keith Shadis is such a great actor. He seems really scary, but he's actually really nice once you get to know him. At least that's what my sister says."

"I dunno," Eren said, looking at the angry man, "he looks scary, period."

"Hey look!" Armin pointed at one of the actors in the formation. "I see Muffin Top!"

Eren narrowed his eyes, and sure enough, Eren's mentor was standing between a tall boy with black hair and freckles, and a dirty blonde girl with glasses. Jean had a smug arrogant look on his face that Eren only ever saw when he was in character.

"Armin, I see your doppelgänger!" Mikasa gestured towards a short blonde boy with the same bowl cut as Armin. The two boys looked almost identical, even though they weren't related at all.

"Ha, he looks weak!" Armin sneered. "I bet if we had a fight I would win easily!"

Eren snorted as he adjusted the gauze on his elbow. "Yeah, right."

"But I beat up Hannes!"

"He purposely lost to you, Armin," Mikasa said nonchalantly. Before Armin could retaliate, Mikasa quickly said, "I see my sister."

Eren leaned over the fence and quickly spotted her sister's distinct Japanese features among the sea of European faces. She looked identical to her little sister, albeit with longer hair and a deadly calculating look in her eyes.

"I think she's scarier than Keith Shadis," Eren said aloud. He clapped his mouth shut when he realized what he said.

Mikasa giggled. "It's okay. I think she's scarier too. You should have seen her when Big Armin tried to steal her food."

"What about that guy?" Armin pointed to a brunette near the front of the formation. "He looks like he's going to murder someone!"

Eren immediately burst into laughter without even looking at where Armin was pointing. "That must be my brother. He's playing the older Eren, who's probably a hundred times angrier than my Eren."

They suddenly became quiet. Then Armin spoke. "I wonder if they're like us."

Eren thought it over. "Probably, but a lot more mature, since they're older than us."

"Hey, want to see if we can steal more cupcakes?"

"Let's do it!"

And the three children ran off leaving behind the now chaotic scene in the training grounds.

"And cut! I swear, if you and Ackerman goof off one more time, you guys are going to clean up the entire set by yourselves!"

"It was her fault, director!"

"He almost tripped me!"

"I don't care whose fucking fault it is! You're disrupting the entire filming!"

"But-"

"No buts!"

Meanwhile, Jean groaned inwardly as the bickering continued.

Can't they take a break for a minute?

Bloopers

Shadis: We now begin the enlistment ceremony for the 104th Trainee Corps! I am Nick Fury, and I have the misfortune to be assigned to train you SHIELD agents. And I'm not here to welcome you at all! Right now, you're mere cattle, fit for nothing but to serve as cattle for Loki! No, less than cattle...In three years, we'll take you worthless pieces of crap and train you! Give you the means to fight Hydra. In three years, when you stand before a Hydra agent, will you still be cattle? Or will you be a noble wall, shielding SHIELD? Or perhaps...oh my God. Shielding SHIELD?

Jean: I call Iron Man!

Mikasa: Dibs on Black Widow.

Sasha: I get to be Hawkeye!

Reiner: Captain America.

Eren: Yes...that's what I'll be. Wait...what am I supposed to be?

Reiner: You can be the Hulk.

Armin: Can I be Agent Hill then?

Bertholdt: ...Bucky Barnes.

Reiner: Can you not...