A/N: "[Languages other than Eldian, look like this.]"


"...and then Dominic tackled him to the ground, took the flag, and booked it towards our side and won for our team. The other team sent everyone to catch him! It was like he was running from a pack of wild animals. It was so awesome!" Alex said as he walked beside his blond friend.

"I hope you were taking it easy." Zeke said before he grabbed Alex's face. "You still have a black eye and I'm sure you still have other bruises elsewhere."

Alex stuck his tongue out at him before swatting Zeke's hand away. "I wasn't beaten that hard. It was just supposed to be a really painful reminder, not debilitating. Marley's military needs cannon fodder like me."

Zeke only shook his head. "We're here." He said as they walked up the steps to Zeke's home. "Come on, I got something I want to show you." He pushed the door open, and Alex walked inside. Zeke following behind him.

It was strangely dark. And quiet…

The curtains in front of the windows blocked most of the sunlight that tried to come through and the lights were shut off.

Usually there was someone who would be home in the Yeager family house when he visited. Mr. Yeager, in his office with the sounds of rustling paper and the clinking and thudding of different medical tools. Or Mrs. Yeager, Her steps tapping as she hummed her tune while she did work around the house or cooked. Even Zeke, who usually tapped his fingers on the book they were currently reading together.

It immediately put him on edge.

"That's strange…" Alex mumbled.

Suddenly the lights in the house turned on with a click.

"Surprise!" The sudden yell made Alex jump. He felt his heart skip a beat.

Alex looked around the room. There in front of him were his parents, both Mr. and Mrs. Yeager, and Mr. Ksaver. All of them had jumped out from their hiding places to surprise him. They weren't that well hidden and he would have been able to see them if it wasn't dark and he wasn't distracted.

"Guys…" He said softly. "You didn't have to do this…"

"Don't just stand there, come in boys!" Alex's father says as he ushers to two inside.

"The cake's in the dining room." His mother said. Everyone in the house started moving to where the cake is.

Zeke put his hand on Alex's shoulder as they walked. "You should have seen the look on your face! You looked thoroughly spooked." He chuckled.

Alex rolled his eyes. "Well, obviously. I wasn't expecting a big party!"

There on the table was his cake. The candles were already in and Ksaver was showing off by (Somehow) lighting the candles with his blood.

Alex rolls his eyes fondly. He hoped Zeke wouldn't be a showoff when he got the Beast Titan.

"3 2 1," The birthday song was sung, and Alex got to cut and eat his cake.

"Mmm, this is delicious! Thanks Mom. Thanks Mrs. Yeager."

"You just couldn't wait to dig in until everyone had a slice, huh?" His mother said as she pinched his cheek.

"I'm glad you enjoy it." Mrs. Yeager laughed. She continued cutting the cake for the others.

There was enough cake for everyone to get a decent sized slice. It surprised Alex. Cakes were kind of expensive to make in Leberio as it's considered a luxury food for Eldians. It takes ingredients that could be used for more nutritious foods. At best, you'd usually get a cupcake. Alex guessed Ksaver pitched in.

"Hey," Zeke started, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder. Alex turned his cake filled face towards the blond. The older boy looked at the brunette's lips and snorted out a laugh. "You have frosting on your face."

Alex swallowed his cake. "Wha-?" Zeke held the boy's chin with his left hand and took a napkin to wipe his face from any frosting.

"There, that's better." Zeke chuckled.

Alex blushed. That was so embarrassing. Who was he? Sasha?

Zeke ruffled up the younger boy's hair. "Happy birthday Alex."

Alex playfully hit Zeke's shoulder. He smiled; his face still flushed. "Thanks."

Overall, it was a nice party.

But eventually the sun set and the cake was eaten, and it was time for Alex to leave.

Ksaver had already left a while earlier to attend to some business.

"Thank you so much for the party." Alex said as he and his parents made their way to the door.

"It was our pleasure young man." Mr. Yeager said as he parted Alex's head. "And don't be so formal. You're like another Grandson to us."

Alex felt heat rise in his cheeks. He smiled. "Of course, Grandpa."

The elder Yeager smiled at him. "Now off you go. You have to get some good rest before you head back to the barracks."

"I'll walk you out." Zeke said as he walked to stand beside him.

"Oh, Alex here." Grandma Yeager said before she handed him a paper grocery bag taped shut. It was extremely heavy. "Open that up at home dear." The smile on her face looked a little sad. "We don't have any use for those. I'm sure you can though."

Alex shifted the bag in his hands to hold it better. "Thanks Grandma."

Zeke followed the small family outside to say his goodbyes. He gave Alex a side hug. "You'll be there for the announcement ceremony, right?" He asked.

Alex scoffed lightly. "Of course. It's a military thing and I'm one of the top Eldian cadets, at least academically, so I got an invite. Plus, there's going to be a buffet. I want to finally try Leberio's famous seafood dishes."

Zeke hummed in agreement. "Good." He pulled a slip of paper from his pocket and placed it inside the other boy's hands. "I want you to be my plus one at the dinner after the ceremony."

Alex raised a questioning brow. "What! Why? Wouldn't it be best if Mr.–er, Grandpa or Grandma went with you?"

Zeke looked down. "I thought about it, yes. I don't think it would be a good idea. Grandma doesn't leave the house very often anymore, and Grandpa would feel too guilty being around so many military personnel… They might–no–will break down over this. All because of them…" Zeke made eye contact with Alex again. "Alex, you mean a lot to me. You were my first friend. You didn't shun me when you learned of my parents.. activities. You've supported me even after the fact. I wouldn't want anyone else to sit beside me."

"Zeke… That's really sweet." Alex thought it over. It wouldn't hurt to at least be there for his best friend to support him. "I'll do it. And remember that no matter what I'll always be your friend."

"Thank you."

"Of course. I'll see you then." Alex waved back to him before he walked back home with his parents.

When they arrived home his parents immediately went straight to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

"Need any help?" Alex asked.

"Nope we've got this. Just go to your room and look at your present."

"M'kay." He replied.

He walked to the door to his room and pushed it open with a creak. He dropped the bag like a sack of potatoes with a loud thud before he flopped on his bed face first.

He honestly missed this bed. It was so much softer than his at boot camp.

He turned to lay on his back and looked at the ceiling. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Home sweet home.

He eventually sat up. He pulled the grocery bag towards him so he could better see its contents. Inside were several plain shoe boxes. He picked one up and examined it. It was really heavy for a shoe box.

Why would he be given so many boxes? The question of what could be inside made him excited.

He opened up the first shoe box.

It was a notebook. Very plain but thick. He opened up the cover to reveal a name.

Signed Grisha Yeager

"[Oh Shit..]" Alex spoke out the English words weakly in a panic.

Were the Yeagers trying to get him killed!?

It was Grisha's detailed notes on ancient Eldia.

He thought that this stuff was all taken away. Nice to know that they missed stuff.

Curiosity got the better of him though, and he flipped through each page. Reading them all carefully. Alex tried to understand what went through Grisha's head during this. It looked like something Matpat would write if he did a theory on Ancient Eldia. It was all over the place. It looked reasonable enough if you didn't know Ymir's backstory and the actual crimes Eldia did. With Alex's knowledge, it looked like a romanticized version of Eldia's history and Grisha's ignorance of the horrific things done in the name of Ymir. And when those horrible things came up in his notes, he made sure to write in how honorable each soldier was.

The main thing he actually got right was how Ymir built the Eldian Empire with her flesh and bones. Literally.

He was eventually called for dinner. He closed the book he was reading with a sigh, putting it and the other books away. He put each shoe box neatly under his bed. He didn't know what he was going to do with these, but he'll figure it out when he comes back home.

He definitely did not want to find out what would happen to get caught with these on military property.


Thank you all so much for the favorites, follows, and reviews (I read each one, even if I don't reply back). It really means a lot that you all enjoy this fic.

Unfortunately, I'm gonna be busy all May, so next update will be sometime in June, maybe July if I don't get the next chapter done in time. :(

Also, I've been thinking about writing about the Eldian Empire's influence on the world. Like how the Eldian Empire forcefully changed the world's role for women. If you wanna see something like that let me know!

I also drew Alex so... itsleathelion457/714356504562647040/alexander-birken-from-my-attack-on-titan-fanfic?