OKAY - I know with my ADD ass, having two stories on the go may be a mistake.
However - I'm happy with how this came out and it's an idea I've had in my head for a while. I started writing it last night when I couldn't sleep and I literally couldn't stop myself. It's the first story I've ever written that's based in my home country so I'm super excited. I based the campus off of my own University but the town itself is fictional, any similarities with a real place will be coincidental.
Disclaimer - I do not own any rights to Attack on Titan or the characters.
This story will include a lot of MA content, violence, blood, gore, etc.
There will be Ereri (LevixEren) content in this fic, if you do not like that kind of thing - you've been warned.
I'm currently aiming to update each story once a month, please see my bio for explanations. However, I'm going to Japan on 28/10/2023 for two weeks so November updates may be delayed - I'll do my best to keep up when I'm back from holiday.
Hope that you enjoy!
Chapter 1 – Eren
If there was one thing that Eren Yeager loved, it was an early morning swim. There was something soothing about crossing campus just as the sun was starting to rise, not a soul to be seen. The air always felt crisp, clean, and untainted by vehicles or the general smell of students. Eren's lips quirked up in a smile as a gentle breeze tickled an errant lock of hair across his nose, he promptly reached up to tuck the lock of hair into the bun atop his head as he continued to cross the campus towards the sports village.
Eren and his two childhood best friends, Mikasa, and Armin decided to attend the University of Wales due to the excellent international programme. It was a gargantuan campus, considering it sat on the outskirts of a small town, nestled within a picturesque valley with rolling green hills and forests. From what Armin had said, the town was a former mining town. However, once that operation had been shut down, the land was purchased and the university built atop it not too long afterwards. Because of that, the campus itself looked extremely modern compared to the rest of the town. The institution may have been new, but its reputation proceeded itself worldwide, offering an extremely inclusive programme for students from every nationality and walk of life. Although, that didn't stop the trio from making the trip to the nearby Capitol city of Cardiff for a night of binge drinking. Eren smiled at the thought once more, that was one other thing he loved about the UK – he could drink before 21 and man did the Brits know how to party, not that that was an issue anymore for him considering he just celebrated his 21st birthday two weeks ago.
What also cemented his decision to move to the UK was the fact that his father, Grisha, had emigrated here when his parents divorced. Eren couldn't help but feel a slight pang of guilt, Mikasa would've followed him anywhere and he knew that she was intelligent enough to get into any of the Ivy's in America to become a lawyer. Eren couldn't help but feel that he was making her miss out on something. Armin was always going to come here as the University led in the latest developments of research into Infectious Diseases, his dream was to work for the World Health Organisation one day. Whereas Eren . . . merely wanted to get away from America and see more of the world. Armin had started university straight away whereas Eren and Mikasa took a gap year to travel across Asia together. Hence why he was a second-year student at the age of 21. Eren scowled at his feet and kicked an errant stone into the long grass that surrounded the path, he had no idea what he wanted to with his sports science degree. A part of him would love to get his qualification to become a teacher, but he kept changing his mind on a weekly basis. The thought of choosing a career now made him feel caged in again, trapped in one place, and all he wanted was to be free.
"Eren, you need to pick a specialisation soon. There's a career fair on campus this weekend if you want me to go with you? You might get some good advice on something." Armin's words from last night echoed in his head and the guilt hit him in the heart once more. His friend was so supportive, and Eren couldn't help but feel like he was a lost cause.
Eren shoved his hands into the front pocket of his hoodie and shivered slightly. The weather was just beginning to change from pleasant to bitter. That was one thing he couldn't get used to, the winters were definitely longer here, the valley tended to funnel cold wind through the campus like God had put a fan at the edge of the country and dangled ice in front of the blades. Just for shits and giggles, if nothing else. A far cry from where he grew up in Arizona, although he was used to a warmer climate - it didn't really take him too long to adjust after the weather turned colder.
Eren's footsteps quickened as the sports village came into view, the building that housed the swimming pool loomed front and centre at the end of the path. As he approached, a genuine smile split his face as the car park to the left of the building came into view. He immediately spied a beat-up white four-by-four parked in a bay, completely isolated. Eren would recognise that vehicle anywhere. He rubbed his hands together and blew on them slightly as he shouldered open the front entrance, adjusting the duffle bag that was slung across his broad shoulders as he went. Eren walked towards an office door next to the front desk, his trainers tapped purposefully across the gleaming tiles as he went. His smile widened as he spied yellow light that trickled around the edges of the closed door, it was all too easy to spot in the gloom of the building at 06:30 in the morning.
He reached forward and threw open the door as hard as he could, causing the heavy door to slam against the wall.
"Fucking SHIT!" The occupant cried, jumping and scattering papers everywhere at the sudden noise. The man's head whipped around to glare at Eren, who was leaning against the doorframe doubled over with laughter. "I should've known it was you, you fucking menace."
Eren finally straightened, wiping tears from his eyes as he grinned wildly. "I'm sorry Hannes, I saw your light was on and I couldn't resist."
"Fucking Americans." The man muttered before he started to gather the papers that he had thrown everywhere. "Also, that's Mr. Hannes to you."
"Sir, yes, sir" Eren sarcastically saluted before he started to help the older man gather his papers.
Eren wasn't sure how old Hannes was, but he estimated late thirties judging by the speckles of silver that had just begun to pepper the shorter hairs around his ears. He had some lines that creased his forehead and around his mouth, but nothing that would suggest that he was much older than that. A thin moustache decorated his top lip, his light hazel eyes twinkled with mirth. This was the face of a man who loved his job. The man was slim, but muscular, and he had taken a shine to the young American during his first year in the University and promptly took him under his wing. Hannes was the head of the department, so Eren really appreciated him taking the time to spend with Eren on his studies.
Once all the papers were safely atop Hannes's desk once more, the older man sighed and ruffled Eren's hair, dislodging it from his bun in the process.
"Here for another early morning swim, huh kid?"
"You know it, old man." Eren grinned and turned to exit the office, now that his work was done. "Oh yeah, Armin and Mikasa said they're going to come and grab me for lunch later – I don't have any lectures today so I'll probably be here all morning."
Hannes waved a hand at him without looking. "No problem, kid. I'll send them poolside when they come. I doubt we'll get many visitors today anyway, too cold."
"Yeah, tell the bigwigs they need to make the pool heated." Eren joked as he adjusted the strap of his bag once more. "It's freezing in there at the best of times."
"What do you care, you freak of nature. You're a human radiator anyway. Look at you, wearing shorts in this weather." Hannes gestured with the pen in his hand at Eren's shorts.
"Jesus, you sound like my mom." Eren teased.
"Too bad I ain't your mum, you might actually pick out the wax in your ears and listen to me for once." Hannes grumbled as he ran a hand through his blonde hair, making it stick up in all directions.
Eren laughed lightly. "Unfortunately for her, I didn't listen to her very much when I was a kid either."
Hannes's eyes flickered up from his papers to Eren, before he looked down again. "Poor woman, I should buy her a gift for her heroism."
"Excuse me, I was a delightful child, thank you very much." Eren huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Just a little bit . . . spirited."
Hannes rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm sure you were. Now get out of here, I need to get these assignments marked before I die from old age."
Eren smiled and mock bowed to Hannes before backing out of his office and making his way down the corridor that led to the changing rooms. He inhaled deeply, the sharp smell of chlorine tickled his nose pleasantly. It almost made him vibrate with the need to swim, to stretch his muscles and move. He'd been busy with assignments for the last couple of weeks so this was a session that he desperately needed. His mom, Carla, always joked that Eren was a dog that was long overdue for a walk if he hadn't had a chance to burn off his excess energy for a while. He missed her.
Eren's lips quirked up into another smile as he entered the changing room and quickly shed his blue jacket first, followed by his hoodie by yanking it over his head. He unceremoniously stuffed his clothes into a locker before yanking his swimming shorts on as fast as humanly possible. He pulled his goggles over his head and over his eyes as he almost sprinted out of the changing room. In his eagerness, and the fact there was no one else around, he ran to the edge of the pool, picking the lane furthest to the left. Eren threw his towel to the side before he jumped, looping his arms around his knees mid-air to hit the water in a cannonball, spraying water in every direction. He surfaced with a gasp before he started laughing, the noise echoing back at him in the hollow space. The water was shockingly cold, but it took no time at all for Eren to get used to the temperature as he expertly treaded water. Hannes was right about one thing, most of the time he ran hot. With a sigh of relief, he began to swim.
His broad body cut through the still water like a knife as he began to do lengths, rolling diligently to kick off the wall as he reached the edge of the other side of the pool. Eren loved all forms of exercise, running, weights, dancing, boxing. However, there was something special about swimming. The way the world faded away to a murmur whilst he was submersed. The way his muscles bunched, relaxed, and stretched in a way that was not too taxing to him. He was weightless, truly free. In the water, all his worries seemed trivial. Who cares if he didn't know what he wanted to do as a career, who cares that he hadn't been on a date in months, who cares that he was scared he was going to be left behind as his friends pursued their dreams.
Who cares, if he had been in the country for two years now, and his father still hadn't replied to any of his messages.
Who cares, right?
Eren wiped his mind and just focused on swimming, wanting to allow the cold water to wash away the dark thoughts that swirled insistently within his head. So focused he was on his task, he was barely aware of anything around him until the muscles between his shoulder blades and his legs began to uncomfortably ache and burn. He finished his length before he hauled himself to sit on the edge of the pool, leaving his legs to dangle in the water. He panted slightly as he reached over to grab the towel that he haphazardly discarded earlier to drape it around his shoulders.
"Eren!" A voice called cheerfully.
Eren jumped slightly, turning with wide eyes as Armin and Mikasa emerged from the corridor that connected the men's changing rooms to the pool. His eyes flicked up to the clock above the doorway and he almost fainted into the water. The clock hands were now firmly sat on 11:30.
He'd been swimming non-stop for five hours!
"No wonder I'm exhausted." Eren muttered before he plastered a cheerful smile on his face and waved at his friends. "Hey guys!"
Armin was as cheerful as always, a smile split his round face as his wide blue eyes sparkled. His blonde hair was straight and chin-length. The young man shoved it out of his eyes, the movement hinting that he was due for a haircut. He wore his usual plain t-shirt, jeans, trainers, and a zip-up hoodie, although a dark green scarf was wrapped around his slim neck today. Eren could see his ID badge was poking out slightly from beneath his scarf, a tell-tale sign that he had been holed up in the lab again this morning. Mikasa wasn't one to beam like their smaller friend, but a slight smile quirked up the corners of her mouth. Her eyes were as deep and dark as her hair, which was cut into a severe bob that just about brushed her chin. She wore a thick black jumper with a burgundy scarf around her neck, her legs were encased in a pair of dark skinny jeans that were tucked into a pair of black leather boots. One of her pale hands was raised in greeting, the other clutched a black binder to her chest that was full to bursting with papers.
Eren didn't know what he would do without them, they'd been inseparable since birth considering all their parents were close friends. They went to the same schools, same activities, and now they were roommates in the same apartment at the same university.
Until they move on. A traitorous voice whispered.
Eren shook his head violently, as if to physically dislodge the dark thoughts as both of his stopped a couple of feet from him. He stood up slowly, wrapping the strap of his goggles around his wrist so he didn't lose them as he started to dry himself off with the towel.
"You left early today." Mikasa stated, her dark eyes boring into his green ones. "I knocked your door at seven but you were already gone."
Eren shrugged "I couldn't sleep and I have a free day today so I thought I'd come down here early."
All three of them looked up towards the ceiling as the sound of a helicopter passing over seemed to rumble the very ground beneath their feet. Eren frowned slightly, that thing was flying extremely low and it was big.
"Were you swimming the whole time?" Mikasa asked, thoroughly yanking Eren out of his thoughts, her eyes alight with worry.
"Nah I took breaks, don't worry." Eren lied, widening his smile to hide his slight annoyance.
Eren loved Mikasa like a sister, he would walk through the fires of hell for her. However, the way she babied him sometimes set his teeth on edge. He could take care of himself; he was all too aware that he could be extremely impulsive and reckless but he was an adult.
And being an adult means you live with the consequences of your actions.
Mikasa seemed to buy the lie as she nodded brusquely as she adjusted her hold on her heavy binder. Just as she opened her mouth to speak again, Hannes's voice cut across the pool.
"I see you finally got him out the pool, huh?" He grinned
"Hi Mr Hannes," Armin said cheerfully, waving.
"Hey Armin, how goes the lab?"
"Great thanks! I've been assigned a PHD student to shadow and she's . . . interesting to say the least."
Hannes laughed heartily, ruffling Armin's hair. "That's great!" He then cast his hazel eyes onto Eren. "See kid, that's how you show respect."
Eren rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, old man."
"Mr Hannes?" a weary voice asked from behind them all.
They all turned to look at the newcomer. Eren frowned a little as he took in his appearance. The student looked about 18, wearing only joggers, a thin long-sleeved t-shirt, and trainers, despite the cold weather. His hair was stuck to his forehead, and his skin was pale, waxy. He was shivering a little with dark circles under his eyes. What caused Eren to pause were his eyes, the light blue orbs were almost haunted.
What's up with him? Eren thought, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Yes, Ryan. Are you alright?" Hannes said, turning to give the boy his immediate attention. "Are you unwell?"
He looked around, panicked, nervous, before he shook his head. "I . . . just need to talk to you." His eyes fell on the other three students. "Alone, if that's okay."
"Of course, kid." Hannes said before he turned back to the trio. "Right, off with you. You should all get some lunch and enjoy the day. It's cold but sunny."
"Sure Hannes, see you later." Eren murmured.
As they passed Ryan to go into the changing rooms, Eren had to force himself not to stare or shudder. There was something about the kid that set him on edge. Ryan didn't look past nor turn around as they made their exit from the pool area. As soon as the door swung shut behind them, Eren released a breath that he hadn't realised he was holding.
"Well . . . that was odd." Armin muttered.
Eren blinked and rushed over to the locker he stowed his things in earlier. Mikasa diligently covered her face with her binder as Eren yanked down his soaked shorts to pull up a pair of clean underwear before he donned his blue joggers. He shimmied his way into a long-sleeved white t-shirt. He then hurriedly pulled on his blue jacket and wrapped a black scarf around his neck. He threw himself onto the bench to toe his trainers back on, not caring about the fact his hair was still soaking, he retied it into a bun atop his head.
"Where's the fire, Eren? That hungry, huh?" Armin laughed.
"Something's weird about that guy." Eren growled as he tied his laces as quickly as possible. He threw his duffle bag over his shoulders again that was now laden with his discarded clothes and towel. "I've got a feeling in my gut we shouldn't leave Hannes with him."
Mikasa walked forward and yanked Eren back by the shoulder as he tried to walk towards the pool area again. "Eren, that's a private conversation between a student and a teacher. You should respect that Ryan kid's privacy."
Eren shrugged her hand off his shoulder, feeling a pang of guilt at the hurt look in her eyes as he did so. He shoved the guilt down, the anxiety bubbling in his gut was demanding his attention more. He strode past them and crouched by the door that separated the changing rooms to the pool area. He was dimly aware of Mikasa and Armin crouching beside him as he slowly cracked it open. Eren heaved a sigh of relief as he noticed both Hannes and Ryan weren't looking in their direction. Thankfully, because the pool was empty, their voices easily carried over so they could be overheard.
"I haven't seen you in class in a while, is this related to that?" Hannes asked, placing a gentle hand on the twitchy kid's shoulder. "You can tell me, I'm happy to lend a friendly ear. I won't say anything to anyone unless you want me to."
"I wasn't ever going to say anything." Ryan said, his voice high and panicky. "But it got worse, and-and- I'm not sure where to start."
"How about from the beginning," Hannes said patiently. "I'm listening."
Eren could see Ryan take a deep breath. The way he turned had Eren worried that he was going to see the door cracked open. Eren cringed backwards and allowed the door to swing gently closed. He waited a few seconds before cracking it open again and listening intently.
"It started a few weeks ago. My roommate, Will, wasn't getting any luck pulling any girls on a night out. I'm not sure why. I'm not a drinker so I never went out with him. One day he came back, drunk out of his mind. Started getting angry because nobody was giving him the time of day." Ryan took a deep breath. "I offered to listen to him, tried to sit him down and give him some water but . . . that only set him off." He started to sniffle slightly; his voice now thick with tears. "He-He said I was a curse, that I was ruining things for him. He hit me once, started apologising a lot after it. He didn't touch me again for that week so I put it down to a drunken mistake." Ryan slumped, his shoulders curling into himself. "I was wrong."
"Go on kid," Eren could tell that Hannes was pissed but doing his best to shove the anger down. Eren looked down to his own hands that were clenched into tight balls on his knees. What a fucking piece of shit this guy's roommate was.
Eren looked at his friends faces. Armin looked pale and like he was going to be sick. Mikasa had schooled her face into an impassive mask but Eren noticed her fingers were white as she clutched her binder to her chest.
"He hit me again," Ryan whispered, bringing Eren's attention back to the conversation. "Then it turned into daily beatings. I was hiding the bruises quite well but last night," He took a shuddering breath. "Last night was savage, he was an animal but he still had the sense to avoid my face. I don't know how long he was hitting me for but he stopped suddenly and then – and then, he leaned down and tore out a chunk of my arm with his teeth."
Eren's hand crept up to his mouth and he sunk his teeth into the corner of his thumb so he didn't burst out there and expose their eavesdropping. He tasted a little blood which brought him back down to Earth. Armin laid a soothing hand on his shoulder as Mikasa shook her head repeatedly, silently begging him not to move.
Ryan lifted the sleeve of his t-shirt, exposing a jagged wound that was clearly made by human teeth, on his forearm.
Hannes swore and gently grabbed Ryan's arm, turning it over in the lights as he inspected it. "Jesus Christ, kid. Why haven't you cleaned or bandaged this thing. We need to get you to the medical centre. That needs to be disinfected and you probably need stitches."
"I don't feel right, Mr Hannes. I got away from him and locked myself in my room and when I left the flat today, he wasn't there but the door was open. I passed out so I didn't think- "He cut off abruptly with a strangled cry, both of his hands flew up to his head.
The boy let out a glutaral sound that spread goosebumps across Eren's arms, despite the layers he had on. Ryan's eyes suddenly rolled to the back of his head and he crumpled to the tiles like a flimsy piece of paper. Hannes immediately moved, grabbing the boy, and slinging his arm over his shoulder to carry him out.
"Oi Ryan! Come on we're going to the hospital, now." Hannes growled as he started to walk towards the door.
Eren ignored his friend's protests and threw open the door so hard that it slammed against the wall, the second time that day that he had done so. Hannes's eyes widened before his face turned stern. He opened his mouth to admonish the young man.
In the future, Eren will replay this moment in his head. Over and over. He will wonder if he was quicker to act, stronger, faster, it would've changed the outcome. If he had been more suspicious or revealed himself earlier, would it have changed the outcome? If he had not cared about being caught for eavesdropping-
Would it have changed the outcome?
Regardless, Eren will swear that time began to move in slow motion. He was aware of the heavy clatter and thump of Mikasa's file slipping out of her hands and hitting the tile, scattering paper everywhere. He was aware of Armin screaming Hannes's name as he fruitlessly reached forward.
Ryan's eyes had flown open, they were clouded and blank, like when a corpse's eyes are clouded by cataracts. Hannes only managed to get an angry noise out, directed towards Eren, before Ryan's blank eyes flicked towards him. He moved fast, so fast that Eren barely registered what had happened before he started to run towards them.
Ryan had swooped his head forward, latching his teeth onto Hannes's throat before he pulled back, a lump of flesh clamped firmly between his jaws before he swallowed it whole. Hannes's eyes went wide, one hand flew up to his throat to stem the blood as the other flung Ryan away from him.
Eren's green eyes blazed with rage, almost glowing with the intensity. His body moved instinctively before he registered what was happening. Ryan was trying to get up again, saliva and blood dripped down his chin and onto his t-shirt as his dead eyes stared directly at Eren.
"You piece of fucking shit!" Eren yelled before he pulled one leg back and kicked Ryan with all his strength. Ryan's slight body sailed through the air like a kite before it landed in the pool with a large splash.
"Eren!" Armin screamed.
Eren's head turned towards his friends so fast that he was dimly worried he'd snap his neck. Armin was crouched by Hannes's side, wrapping his green scarf around the man's throat to stem the bleeding. Mikasa was uncharacteristically unsettled, her eyes darted around the blood that soaked the tiles before flicking up to Eren's face. She silently stood up and walked away a little, looking at the water.
"You need to go get him out the water, if he can't swim well or he's hurt he'll die!" Armin was gritting his teeth as he neatly tied off the make-shift bandage.
"No way!" Eren growled, his hands balled up at his sides. "That fucker just tried to kill Hannes!"
"Eren! You're not judge, jury, and executioner," Armin snapped. "You'll be arrested!"
"I don't care! I'm not saving him; we need to get Hannes to the hospital. Ryan can drown for all I care."
"Eren!" Armin looked up from his work, his hands stained with Hannes's blood. He opened his mouth to yell some more before Mikasa's soft voice interrupted them.
"He's not dying." She said flatly.
Eren turned to look at her. She was stood at the edge of the pool, one hand pointing, surprisingly steadily, to where Ryan had landed in the water. Eren couldn't see into the pool from his vantage point.
He put one foot in front of the other until he was stood next to her, shoulder-to-shoulder. Eren was dimly aware of Armin joining Mikasa on her other side, as he let out a noise of surprise.
Ryan was still beneath the water, but he was just stood there like a sunken statue. Every now and then he jerked like he was trying to move but his limbs weren't working. He was calm, not drowning.
"He was thrashing about a few moments ago, when you two were arguing." Mikasa said softly. "Now he's just doing this, he should've drowned by now but he's just . . . stood there." She pressed her lips together into a firm line.
"What the hell?" Eren whispered. "Shouldn't he float at least? Why isn't he floating?"
"People are only buoyant if they have air in their lungs," Armin said flatly before his eyes hardened. "We need to get Hannes some help and then alert security about what happened. I don't know what's going on but if he's not drowning let's leave him. Who knows what germs Ryan passed onto Hannes with that bite and he's bleeding a lot. We need to get him to the medical centre first, I don't think he'll last the trip to the hospital."
Eren and Mikasa nodded gravely before all three of them turned back to Hannes.
"Hannes?" Eren called as he kneeled beside the teacher. He cracked open an eye and winced as he accidentally jerked his wound. "Stay still, we're going to take you to your car and drive you to the medical centre. Where's your keys?"
Hannes shakily lifted an arm and pointed towards the front of the building. "Your office?" Eren asked, receiving a shaky thumbs up in response.
Armin and Mikasa, as gently as they could, helped drape Hannes over Eren's broad shoulders. Hannes's head lolled against the back of Eren's shoulder, Eren could almost swear that he could feel the heat of his breath through his thick jacket.
"Come on guys," Eren said grimly as he stood with Hannes securely on his back. "Let's go."
Edited 26/10/2023