A/N: Hope you enjoy, leave a review if you can, and if you have any ideas for me - or some corrections - let me know!

(Mello P.O.V)

I was sixteen now and running an entire family. I cooked, I cleaned, I looked after everyone, and I barely had a life outside my home. But once in a while I had my own time to spend. And more times than not, I spent it outdoors enjoying the fresh air.

Today was no different.

Armin and his friends Eren and Mikasa came with me to the square where I'd play my instrument of choice. Mostly guitar, but I was skilled at a few instruments. Violin, harp, flute, you name it I could play it. But the guitar was just easier for me to drag around and get ready to play.

I tuned the strings while listening in on my brother's conversation with his friends. It was almost entertaining some days. Especially when they argued over something meaningless.

Like today for example.

"I'm telling you, I could have beaten them up!" Eren assured Mikasa. "Just stop getting in the way!"

"Come on, Eren," Armin said with a sheepish smile. "She's just looking out for us."

"She embarrasses me! Why can't she just let me fight those sods myself!?"

"Because you aren't that strong." Mikasa spoke truthfully. "And I want to protect you."

I giggled slightly at the frustrated sigh Eren gave out. The kid was a lot tougher than she let on, we all knew, but I suppose she felt like she owed him something for what he did for her.

I found out from Grisha what had happened to her parents. The poor thing. She didn't deserve to go through all that. And Eren? Dear god did that kid have some guts going after those greasy perverts. Hell, I'd have gone after them myself had I found out, but a small little nine year old? I had great respect for him for doing that for her… but I wish they'd gotten there first.

Oh well. It was in the past. And Mikasa looked as though she were doing alright.

But, maybe she could let Eren win a few times. Just for his sake and Armin's.

I don't know if my brother saw it as clearly as I did, but I could see that Eren was trying to impress him. I had a hunch as to why, but I didn't call him out on it. They were friends, nothing more. But if ever I got real evidence against the brunette I'd have a chat with him. My brother was fragile, inside and out, and I wouldn't let anyone – not even his best friend – harm him mentally or physically. I just wouldn't.

It's how I grew up.

I learned to protect and raise my brother – as well as my sisters – to never meet with harm. My parents called me overprotective, but I was just looking out for them. I couldn't bear to think about losing them, and it killed me when I'd thought my father had died all those years back. Yes, I was a bit overprotective…

…but I had to be.

I finally got my guitar tuned and strummed a few chords. "Any requests?"

Eren jumped in at this. "Can you play that one from last week? The one that sounded like waves?"

I remembered the one he meant and began playing it happily. Before long there was a crowd of people gathered around me listening in on the music. Some threw a bit of coin, but others just wanted the music. God knows there wasn't enough of it around here. So I was happy to play for all of them. To escape into the world of music with them.

A world unlike this one.

(Matt P.O.V)

Jumping from rooftop to rooftop was one of my favourite things about my job. Maybe because it was a rush zipping through the air at speeds unknown when walking. Light tried to keep up but it was becoming more and more difficult for him. He knew this was my favourite part of the job, but he still tried to collar me down and keep me from zipping away. What could I help though? It's been mankind's dream to fly since… forever! And I wasn't wasting a second of it on the ground.

I finally stopped so Light could catch up, but whereas I was still raring to go he was huffing and trying to catch some air.

"I told you…!" he started yelling, huffing in between sentences, "to slow… down…!"

"Why? It covers more ground in less time up here! We're almost to the square now!" I said excitedly.

The brunette grumbled. "Why did I ever agree to train you?"

"Because I'm adorable and you love me?" I offered, making an innocent smile.

He huffed. "Maybe because Arlert thought you were worth the time. But I guess even he can be incorrect once or twice."

"Ouch. Words can hurt, Yagami." I joked. "Now come on, we're almost…"

I stopped, hearing something in the distance. It sounded… angelic. Joyful. Magical. It was something unlike anything I'd heard in my entire life. New and gleeful.

Music.

I followed the sounds as quickly as I could, not bothering to use my gear since the sound was close. It was a string instrument, that much I knew, but it carried unlike any other one I knew about. Maybe it was something new. Or maybe I was just hearing things. Either way, I wanted to see who was playing, if anyone was playing at all.

I made it to the square in record timing, Light close behind me. A crowd of people gathered around the source of the sound, and I could tell now that the instrument was a guitar. Someone in the corps had one that he'd play right before we went to sleep. But the person playing this one was way more skilled and had a different heart to their music. It was practiced and loved, like they melded their fingers to the song that was playing. It was absolutely magical.

I slowly made my way through the crowd and saw a familiar face sitting on the step where it lead to the centerpiece of the square…

…and I felt my heart stop.

That wisp of blonde hair, those sparkling blue eyes, and that bright smile. I knew them well enough. They'd been in my dreams for days on end in my first year of the cadets. I'd forgotten them long ago, but now the memories and imaginings all came flooding back to me in a whirl. And I realized how deeply I'd fallen for this being in front of me.

But… did he remember me as well?

I made my way to the front of the crowd, but didn't get a chance to speak with him personally.

Another soldier blocked my way, throwing a rose to his feet. "Encore, my love! Encore!"

Love? Wait, did he…!

"Oh for god's sake, what are you doing here Jim!" He yelled, stopping the music. "I told you yesterday and the day before to leave me the hell alone!"

Oh thank god.

"Come on, lovie!" He slurred out, grabbing his hand. "Have a drink with me! We'll dance and sing all night!"

"And you're drunk." The blonde commented, pulling his hand away. "On the job as well. The garrison really has the best of the best, don't they?"

The crowd snickered at this but this Jim fellow didn't take the joke lightly.

"You'd best watch your tongue, love. Or it'll be the titans for you!"

"I welcome that in exchange from your presence."

I couldn't help the snicker. Mello could definitely hold his own.

Funny… I remember his name so perfectly, yet it'd been years…

…huh…

The soldier grabbed the blonde by the arm and forcefully brought him to stand. "Something you want to repeat, love?"

Before he could do anything to harm him however...

They both froze when a blade rested on his shoulder to his neck. The blade belonging to me.

Enough was enough.

"Jim, was it?" I asked. "Got a few stories about you. Drinking on the job, harassing people, and now you go ahead and threaten an innocent civilian? While under the influence? Damn, man! You must be right stupid if you think you can get away with all this!"

He let go of the blonde and turned to me, drawing his own weapon. "I'll have you know my father was a captain in the survey corps!"

"And my father was a drunk bastard." I replied. "But let's not talk about lineage here. I believe you want a duel."

His response was a downward slice to my head, which I quickly dodged since he was way off mark and in a drunken stupor. He really was a moron.

I quickly drew my other blade and crossed both the blades across his neck. He didn't even see it coming. Then again, he was drunk and stumbling about like a moron so I doubt he could even form a coherent thought.

"Say Yagami," I called to my partner, "mind taking in this trash and report what we saw here today? I got some business to take care of!"

"Can do." The brunette replied with a chuckle.

He bound Jim's hands behind his back then dragged him off. I say drag because… well… he really couldn't stand up for the life of him.

A cheer roared out from the crowd and I took a bow to them.

"Thank you, my good people! Just doing my job!"

"Well, at least someone takes their job seriously in the garrison." I heard the blonde say, annoyed. "But you must be new in the corps so I give it a week before you convert to their ways. Let's go kids."

I watched him leave suddenly with three little kids in tow and tried to follow him. Sadly, however, a few people offering their congratulations on what I'd done blocked my way. One thing I did notice, however, was he'd forgotten something by the step.

I turned back to the step and grabbed his guitar from off the ground. I then ran after him, but I'd already lost him in the fray of people from the market.

Luckily though, I had enough connections in the corps to find out exactly where to find him.

We still had some catching up to do after all.