When You First Meet

~ REVISED ~

A/N: This chapter is dedicated to my readers because I have received 20,000 views on ArchiveOfOurOwn! This makes me so incredibly happy. I never thought this story would receive this much attention, but I am so thankful it has. Thanks to everyone for sticking with me this far :)

Disclaimer: Attack on Titan does not belong to me; I only own the OC Lyla and the mini-stories for each scenario. The cover image does not belong to me, as I found it via Google Images.

~ oOo ~

JEAN

The first day of your Military training took place on a bright, hot, sunny day. You expected nothing else to happen other than to receive your Military uniform and possibly participate in a meet-and-greet. Oh, how wrong you were. Your first day of training consisted of "Initiation," where Commandant Shadis walked around everyone lined up in rows and either screamed in their face, which he did to most of the cadets, or he ignored them, which he did to a small few.

You, however, stood there silently, wondering whether Commandant Shadis would scream at you or let you live. You had no idea but braced your arms behind your backing, ever awaiting sudden death. Briefly closing your eyes, your mind wandered about what training would be like. You had heard stories about the harshness of the Cadet Corp training and heard rumors that there were cadets who had died. You weren't sure what to believe other than that there were some highly handsome males in your class, especially the male who stood in the row before you. You could only see his backside, but you could see that this man would be handsome.

Eyes following the male soldier with copper-blonde hair, you watched as Commandant Shadis started yelling in his face, the rest of the cadets gazing from the corners of their eyes, their ears listening to this Jean Kirschtein who said he wanted to join the Military Police in the Interior. Even before the attack, you grimaced, knowing Shadis was going in for the kill.

On your first day of Military training, you watched as Jean had his forehead smashed in by the Commandant.

Your insides curled, knowing the male's head had to have been seriously hurt to have sustained a headbutt such as that. But it wasn't just the initial assault on the first day that caught your eye. The next day, you watched Jean excel at the weightless ODM aptitude test. He, like several others, made it look so easy. You had barely passed, earning a growl from Shadis that you had done better on the actual test the following day, or your ass would be out of Cadet Corp.

Later that night, before dinner, you swallowed the nerves crawling from your stomach and sought Jean, wanting his opinion and suggestion on what you should or shouldn't do.

Tapping his arm, the copper-blonde male turned around, a small smile forming when he recognized who you were. "You're…Lyla, right?"

You squealed on the inside, loving that he knew who you were without having spoken to him yet. "You remembered?" You asked.

"I did. You…you were behind me when I got hit yesterday, weren't you?"

You tried not to smile. "…I was."

"…damn," he muttered. Shaking his head, he asked, "So…what's up?"

"Well, I was wondering if I could ask you for some help."

"Help? Sure! I mean, we haven't done anything for me to be able to warrant some help, but…eh, what the hell. What'd you need?"

"I…have some questions about the ODM aptitude test. I was watching you today - you were awesome! I can't believe you were able to pass so easily!"

This had the male smiling. "Heh, you well…" His smile turned into a beautifully devilish grin. "It's all about the sixth sense!"

"…the sixth sense?" You tilted your head to the side.

"Yes," he said. "You gotta use your sixth sense when in the air. We haven't actually used ODM yet, but I need to be aware of you, the environment, and what is happening to you."

"Hmm," you cupped your cheek, considering his words. "I think I get it…so, using your intuition to balance without solely focusing on your balance."

Jean considered my words. "Something like that." He snapped his fingers. "For me, it's trusting my gut that I won't fall, but it's also…" Rubbing the back of his neck, Jean sighed. "Shit, I'm sorry, I'm not making much sense at all."

"Oh no! You've been such a big help! I do think this will help me tomorrow with my test."

He looked incredulously at you. "You sure, Lyla?" You merely nodded. "I mean…there's probably more advice I could give you."

His words had you smiling even more. "No, I appreciate all that you have given me already!"

Jean rolled his eyes. "You're an odd one, aren't ya?"

"I can be sometimes, yes."

He chuckled. "Well…you, uh…wanna go grab some dinner?"

At that moment, your stomach growled, and you sheepishly cast your eyes away. "If that alone doesn't tell you I'm hungry, I don't know what will."

"Then let's eat." Yea went to move strands of hair from his eyes when we winced, fingers holding against the specific spot on his forehead.

"Ouchie," you commented, watching him the entire time. "You got hit pretty hard, huh?" Beneath his fingers, you could see a small red protruding bump. "I'm sorry about that."

"Shit…you, by chance, didn't see the moment I got hit, did ya?"

"No, I saw everything."

"…well fuck."

MARCO

Your first day of training had been long and full of screaming. Commandant Shadis made it well known that he was not there to be your friend. Instead, he was there to bring you close to death for you to become capable soldiers. Initiation had occurred underneath the hot, boiling sun, and you wanted nothing more than to sleep the night away. The day had been long, and you had just finished your evening meal of potato soup. Or…at least you thought it was potato soup. Either way, it somehow curled the hunger in your stomach. Meaning you were now ready for some sleep.

However, instead of heading straight to your bunk, you decided to wander the grounds, not caring if you were caught if you were to be in bed. It was the first day; what was the worst they could do?

Having left the hall while the rest of your fellow cadets were still eating, you stepped out into the cool night air. It was a drastic difference compared to the heat of the day you experienced, and it was a welcome change. Lifting your head to focus on the stars, you stared in awe. Though you could still see the stars from the District you were from, it was a completely different story out here. The stars were bright and full, while the moon looked big and gorgeous.

Unaware of where you were stepping, you overlooked your surroundings. Your head stayed tilted toward the sky as you became oblivious to the final step on the porch stairs until you had utterly missed where your foot was supposed to be. Rather than your foot stepping perfectly where it was meant to land, your body flung backward, eyes growing extensive as you realized, at the last second, what was happening.

"Woah! Careful there!"

A pair of hands suddenly held your shoulders, keeping you upright as your heart started to increase its beating in your chest. Having been pulled against another body, you lifted your head to see the person who had saved you from your stupidity. Cheeks now blaring hot, your eyes widened at seeing the freckles on the cheeks of your savior. Holding your shoulders as you moved upright, the male smiled at you.

Baffled that you had done something as silly as fall from missing a step, the first sound left your mouth was a giggle. "Oh geez…I can't believe I almost fell!"

"That would have been a close one. You definitely would have hit your head for sure. Let's…not hurt ourselves on the first day of training, shall we?" The male appeared sheepish as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"I…I thank you, seriously. Would you believe that this happens all the time? I trip over air, so it's not surprising I almost fell."

The male snickered as he held a hand up to cover his mouth. "Am I to assume that something like this is a daily occurrence?"

You scratched your cheek. "W-Well, I mean…I wouldn't say daily, but…close enough!"

The male was still smiling, and you were suddenly engrossed by the perfect placement of each freckle across his face. "Then I am happy I could prevent such a disaster today. "You're Lyla, right?"

"That's me! And you're Marco?" He nodded. "I think it's very respectable you wanna join the MPs to protect the King."

Marco's eyes grew wide at your statement. "Really? T-Thank you! Do you know what regiment you want to join?"

"Um, not yet, I don't think."

"Well, you still have some time. I mean, we will be training for three years."

"That's a good point. I can see the thrill of wanting to join the MPs, but…there's something about the Scouts that is calling my name."

As his eyebrows rose, Marco whistled. "Dang…The Scouts, huh?" You nodded, smiling brightly. "Then you have my respect."

"I - really?"

"Mhm. I think anyone who wants to join the Scouts to kill the titans deserves some level of respect."

"I really appreciate that Marco; thank you."

"And you're very welcome."It was then he tilted his head upward. "So…you were staring at the stars before you fell, right?"

"Yeah, I couldn't help it. They're just so pretty out here."

"I have to agree, they are." Taking the last few steps off the porch, Marco turned to stare back at you. "There…is some time before the last bell rings before bed. Do you wanna walk around me so we can carefully star gaze?" He held a beautiful smile on his face.

"I would love that!"

LEVI

"Oi! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Your nearly dead eyes slowly lifted at the sound of a sudden voice. Down here in the Underground City, light was hard to come by since the sun barely reached the far corners of the city built underneath the inside of the inner wall. You were currently huddled against the far reach of an alley, out of sight and out of mind. No one would be looking for you. It had been some time since anyone had been looking for you.

It had been a while since your parents had left you, leaving you on your own with no food or money to help you get by. They hadn't died, but they didn't want to take care of a young girl either.

Lifting your head, you could only stare lifelessly at the male before you. This male was clean and dressed in clean clothes. His arms were crossed as he did nothing but stare down at you. You don't know what his eyes were so fixated on; nothing was on you. You barely had any meat on your frail bones, your clothes had holes and were ginormous on your thin body, and your eyes had sunken in.

You wanted nothing more than for death to come and claim you.

Casting your bleak stare at the male before you, you wondered how old he was. You were almost fifteen, and this male looked roughly the same age as you. That was when your weak stomach growled, having not eaten for at least a week. You were on the verge of passing out when the male with beautiful black hair called out to you.

"Hey, girl! What're you staring at?"

It was then you realized what it was you had been looking at. The male had a loaf of bread in his hands. So, you did the only thing you could and pointed at the food he was carrying.

"…you have food." Damn, you barely recognized your voice, having not heard it for some time.

The male sighed, eyes switching between your gaze and what he held in his hands. Tearing half of his bread, the male knelt before carefully placing it on your lap. He observed you as you could only look at the food you now possessed. Slowly, you grasped the bread and brought it to your lips, biting a tiny piece off as you carefully swallowed the bite.

"Is that better?" The male suddenly asked.

Seeking his eyes, you weren't sure how to answer. You knew the bread should have tasted good, but because it had been some time since you had something to eat, the food itself tasted like nothing. Wanting to answer, you first shrugged. "It's…the best I've had in a while."

The man's frown turned further down if that was possible.

"…thank you."

Caught off guard by your words, the male sighed. "There's no need to thank me. I've been in your shoes before." Watching as you nibbled the bread rather than take full bites, the male flinched slightly. "When was the last time you even ate?"

Looking down at your hand, you tried counting on your fingers. "Um…maybe a week…probably more."

"…fucking shit," the male muttered to no one other than himself. Lifting his eyes, the male could only think about the next time he would see you. Would there even be a next time? Deciding to take action, the male suddenly stood to his feet. You knew there wasn't more he would say, so you focused on the remainder of your bread, content that you at least had something to get you by for some time.

What you hadn't expected was for the male to grasp your entire body and haul you into his arms.

Squealing with a force you didn't recognize, you latched your arms around the male's neck. "W-What're you doing?!" You mustered in a courageous voice.

"I can't just leave you out on the streets. You're coming back with me."

"I'm…but where are you taking me?"

"To my house," the male said as if his answer should have been obvious.

"…please, I can walk." The male ignored your statement. You curled into his body, knowing he wouldn't say anything against your words.

"…the name's Levi," the male suddenly said.

"L-Levi?" You repeated his name to make sure you heard him correctly.

"That's me."

"I…I like your name." You swallowed another bite of your bread before stating, "My name's Lyla."

"I didn't ask for your name, brat."

"And I didn't ask for yours."

Levi laughed at your statement. "At least you still have some bite."

Head snapping to me as quickly as you could muster, you said in a somewhat angry voice, "H-Hey! You called me 'brat'!" Though he didn't say anything in return, Levi slightly turned his head, and you swore you saw a slight lift of his frown. "…are you even listening to me?!"

EREN

"I'll kill all the titans! I swear it!"

Sniffling in the corner, you looked over at the boy screaming. Moving your attention from the boy, who looked to be about your age, to the sky, you started to cry even harder. It had been a perfect day in Shiganshina. You had spent the day collecting firewood and helping your father and mother in their little bakery. Your parents had told you to head home early when the giant, red titan had crashed the wall, allowing the other human-eating titans to enter your district. You barely had time to see your parents before they had been eaten right before your very eyes.

A Garrison soldier had witnessed what had happened and carried you to the ferry where you currently were. The ferry was taking you and hundreds of others to Trost, where you would remain safe, at least for now.

Stealing another peek at the boy, you noticed he was also with two other kids your age: a girl with long black hair and another boy with blonde hair. Rubbing your eyes, you continued to sniff more. You wanted nothing more than to hug your parents. At the sudden thought of your mother and father, you curled your legs tighter into your body and cried even more.

You jumped slightly when a hand suddenly fell upon your shoulder.

"Hey, everything will be ok."

Lifting your head, you saw the brown-haired boy glance down at you. His face was angry, and his eyes were screaming, but beneath the depths, you could still see a calmness in his beautiful blue eyes. This boy watched as the tears continued to fall from your eyes. Removing his hand from your shoulder, this boy dropped it to you, open palm for you to grasp. Shaking your head, you curled more into yourself, scared of everything you had seen, scared of everything you were witnessing. When you didn't say anything, the boy sat next to you as the other two people he was with walked over.

Nudging his shoulder with you, the boy softly said, "I'm Eren."

Lifting your head, you dropped it against your knees as you stared at him. Wanting to keep the kindness he had shown you, you also replied in kind. "…I'm Lyla."

"Lyla, huh?" You nodded. Turning to his friends, he tilted his head toward you, and they walked over, sitting before you. "Lyla…are you scared of the titans?"

You nodded again, knowing you were now all alone in this world. Eren was about to say something else when you beat him to speaking. "…they took my parents from me."

His eyes seemed to widen. "They did?"

"Mhm…" You could feel even more tears falling. "I watched…as one titan ate both my parents."

Eren surprised you by saying, "I watched as one ate my mother, too."

Head lifting from your knees, you turned to stare at the boy fully. "You…you too?"

"Yeah," Eren said softly. "Mikasa, Armin, and I…" He nodded to the others before him. "We're all alone in this world now, just like you. But…the four of us…we can be alone together if you'd like."

Blinking in Mikasa and Armin's direction, they did their best to stare at you, both nodding at their friend's words. You wanted to smile because of their words, leaving you to manage to lift your frown slightly. But you weren't ready. You weren't ready to smile.

Turning to Eren, you nodded your head. "I don't want to be alone."

"We're here, Lyla. The three of us won't leave you." Wrapping an arm around your shoulder, Eren pulled you in close. "Don't worry, Lyla. I'll protect you."

CONNIE

It was the night of initiation after listening to Commandant Shadis scream for most of the afternoon, and you had just finished your first meal as a cadet. Leaving behind more than half of your comrades inside the Mess Hall, you stepped outside. Though it was a fairly calm evening, it was warm inside the hall, where you were crammed with everyone else. Walking to the railing, you leaned against the wood, staring at the beauty of nature.

Several people had left the hall alongside you. Eren, Mikasa, and Armin walked away from the hall, talking together. You had gathered that they were close friends and smiled, wondering if you would gain a friendship like that while training for the next three years. Your goal was to graduate in the Top Ten so you could join the Military Police. But you also did not want to be alone for those three years, leaving you with the wish to gain at least one close friend.

Hearing the Mess Hall door open again, you glanced over to see a cadet named Connie and Jean leave. Connie seemed in his head, whereas Jean was torn from following Mikasa. You had seen how he stared at her toward the night's end. You thought it was adorable the way he ogled at her, but secretly, you felt there was something between Mikasa and Eren. I called it a hunch. Whether they knew or not, you did.

"Hey, man! What the hell did you wipe on my clothes?!"

Head tilted toward to your right to find Connie freaking out; you had, from the corner of your eye, watched as Jean wiped his hand along the length of Connie's back. You had no idea why he had done such a thing. The only reason you could consider was the handshake he shared with Eren not ten minutes earlier before the night bell rang. They had been fighting over joining the Scouts, and you could only tell this was the beginning between them.

As Jean left Connie without saying a word, you walked close to Connie, laying a hand atop his shoulder. You patted his back with your other hand while laughing.

"There's nothing on your back, Connie, don't worry." As the male turned toward you, you smiled up at him.

Glancing to his back and then again to you, the male smiled as you had to him. "Ah, thank you very much! I was concerned because I hadn't done anything to Jean, then he just slammed his hand into my back!"

You chuckled at his antics. "I was there the entire time. I think he was just upset about something he saw."

Turning to look behind him, Connie shrugged. "Well, if you say there's nothing on my back, then I trust you. Say…your name is Lyla, right?"

You giggled, somehow finding Connie's look to be cute at the moment. "Yep, that's me."

He then smiled more, happy that he had stated your correct name. "Nice." Then, he froze momentarily and said, "Hey, wait! You're the one who showed me the correct salute after my row turned during Initiation today!"

"O-Oh, you remember that?"

"Of course I remember that! Commandant Shadis picked me up by the head because I was wrong. You saved me from another assault in the future!"

You giggled again. "Well, someone had to fix your failed salute."

Connie rolled his eyes. "Oh geez…And here I was, thankful for your help."

You flicked his forehead. "Thanks isn't needed, silly. I wanted to help."

"R-Really?" He seemed genuinely surprised at your words. "Then…let me at least thank you for looking at my back."

Your smile softened. "It's no problem at all, Connie."

"Are…Are you headed back to your dorm?" You nodded. "Mind if I walk you back?"

"That is so sweet of you, Connie. I would greatly appreciate that."

ARMIN

It had been roughly a year since Wall Maria fell, and you had to take refuge inside Trost District. Your parents had died of sickness before the wall fell, so you were used to fending for yourself. Since the wall fell, nothing has changed for you except having to scavenge for food in a different district. You were still by yourself. No parents to take care of you, no friends, it was just…you.

Today, it had been nothing except a typical day. You tried scavenging for food in trash bins or panhandling in the streets to earn some coin. Luckily, several individuals feeling charitable had left some coins in your hand, leaving your bag slightly fuller than it had been in some time.

You had just come from the bakers with a large loaf of fresh bread in your hands, along with one sugar cookie. The cookie cost more than the bread, but you decided to treat yourself. You didn't know how much time you had left on this earth, so you wanted to live a life that made you happy. And in that instance, a loaf of bread and a single cookie would make you happy.

On your way back to where you usually slept, you turned down a lonely alley, expecting to be alone. However, today was not to be one of those days. Down toward the opposite end of the alley, you spotted a blonde-haired boy who looked around your age, maybe slightly older. He was curled against the wall, holding a straw hat. Something about this boy drew you to him. Stepping close enough not to invade his personal space, you noticed that he was silently crying.

Thistle at your heart.

"Excuse me…are you alright?"

You weren't sure if the boy heard you, and you were about to repeat yourself when the boy spoke. His voice was quiet. "N-No, but…I'll be ok."

Somehow, you didn't believe him. Feeling that you shouldn't leave this boy, you slid alongside the wall and claimed the seat beside him. Patting him on the shoulder, you tried to smile. "It's ok…I'm not alright either."

Finally, the boy tilted his head upward to see who he had been speaking with. You were taken back by the clarity of his eyes. "You…you too?" You nodded. "Did someone in your family…were they forced to go past the walls too?"

You nodded, not liking to dwell on the most recent memory. The only reason you had been able to survive this long is because it was so recent. It was easier to pretend you had been alone this time rather than remember the memories you now held. Wanting to share something private with this boy, you nodded again. "My…my brother. He was…all I had left. Now it's…just me."

This boy moved slightly to show you the straw hat in his hands. "All I have left of my grandpa is this hate. He was forced to go too."

Reaching over slightly, you gently ran your hands over the straw, admiring how such a simple object could hold that much power over someone. "Will we…will we ever see them again?"

The boy shook his head, long blonde hair swinging as he did so. "Unfortunately, I don't think so."

Your body shuddered, having already accepted the inevitable, but this was the first someone had voiced your inner fears. You could feel the tears swelling in the corner of your eyes, but for the first time in several days, you felt comfortable to allow them to fall. Wanting to say something else, you looked at the boy. "Um…I'm Lyla. I'll be here around Trost…if you ever want to talk again."

You moved to stand, but the boy grasped your wrist as you slid back to your original position. He glanced over at you, smiling ever so slightly. "I'm Armin, and…I'd like that."

Smiling as softly as you could, you grabbed the loaf of bread and the cookie and split them down the middle. Armin shook his head as you handed the items to him, but his reaction only caused you to giggle. "Please…I want you to have this."

"Even…even the cookie?"

"Even the cookie." You patted his shoulder as he took a small bite. "Sometimes…we need the little things to get us through the day."

REINER

Having just moved from a different city inside the country of Marley, your family now resided in the Eldian section within Liberio. You weren't sure what your father did for work. All you knew was that he came home one day to speak with your mother and that it was time to move to Liberio. And so, after weeks of planning, you now resided in your new house. There were other buildings on your street; however, one aspect of your building you liked most was a small grassy play area in the back. Some days, you find yourself wandering around, trying to gain an understanding of the new place where you live. You missed your old home and were trying to convince yourself that you could live here.

One thing you thought would be more common would be children. You had hoped that there would be more so you could play with other kids your age. In the week since arriving, you hadn't seen another child anywhere, which left you saddened.

One day, you were playing outside when a voice from next door entered your ears.

"Hey, hey you!"

Head tilting at the noise, you glanced at the short white picket fence separating your building from the one beside you. On the other side stood a taller boy with blondish hair and a cheeky smile growing on his face.

Raising your hand in his direction, you waved, calling out to the boy. "Hey, you back!" You yelled back, wanting to match his energy. Stepping closer to the fence, you were curious to learn more about him. Where had he been since you moved here a week ago?

The boy smiled when you each reached the fence, the white wood separating you.

"Hi, it's nice to meet you, I'm Reiner! You're our new neighbors, right?"

You nodded, your heart beating faster at the thought you had just met another kid your age. Ever since you learned of moving, this is all you have wanted. Since you didn't have many friends where you used to live, you had wanted nothing more than to state that you had at least one person you could call a friend. "Yeah, we just moved in last week. My dad got a new job doing…something, I'm not quite sure." Coughing away your nerves, you eventually waved them off. "My name's Lyla."

Reiner's eyes seemed to sparkle upon learning your name. "Lyla, huh? My, that's one pretty name."

You could feel your cheeks starting to burn. "I think Reiner's a pretty cool name."

"Heh, thanks!"

Blinking, you wanted to keep the conversation going. "So…" You kicked a rock beside your shoe. "What do you do for fun around here?"

Reiner scratched his head. "There's a park near here; that's pretty nice. I'm kinda busy most days, being a Warrior candidate and whatnot."

You'd heard of those before. "Wait, really? You're a Warrior candidate?"

"That's right!"

"Does that mean you know how to fight?"

"Pretty much," he smiled.

"Can you use a gun?"

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Wow!" You were impressed. Most of the boys from your previous town could barely kick a rock, and here, your neighbor was a Warrior candidate! "Now I think that's pretty cool."

"So, what about you? You're new here; what are you wanting to do?"

"I…" You sheepishly glanced away. "I don't have any friends, so I've just been playing catch with myself."

"Hm, catch, you say?" You nodded. Reiner held up his finger, quickly running inside the building. Returning only moments later, he held two battered gloves and a ball. "You said you don't have any friends, so…wanna play catch with me?"

Your eyes grew wide. "Seriously?! I would love to!"

"Here, then you can keep this!" He handed you one of the gloves, placing the other over his hand. Stepping several feet back, you followed what Reiner did as he gently tossed the ball to you.

By the time the sun started to set, Reiner had already called his friend. He shared his training schedule with you but was adamant that the moment he was free, he wanted you to meet his other Warrior friends, especially Bertholdt. You had gone to sleep that night happy and with a bright smile, feeling that you had made your first-ever friend.

BERTHOLDT

As you woke up, the sun had barely started to peek across the horizon. Today was an important day, a crucial day that would determine your future and the livelihood of your family's future. Today was the day to decide who would become one of the Warrior candidates. For the last few years, your family has pushed you for the position. Hell, any position as a Warrior was fine with them as long as you earned the respected armband they could wear in public.

Secretly, you didn't want it. You didn't care. You were too young to see the war between the Marleyans and the Eldians to fully understand how becoming a true Warrior could impact your family.

Still, you did this for your family because you cared and loved them.

From what you could tell, the Warrior training was hard, and you were familiar with most of the other candidates interested in joining. However, one individual continued to remain quiet no matter how many times you tried speaking with him.

Still, today was an essential day.

As you ran outside your home to the Military Headquarters for the final test, you pushed through the growing crowds to ensure you wouldn't be late. As you turned one of the last corners, you didn't see the person before you as you rammed right into their back. Slamming directly into them caused you to fall on your rear, wincing at the impact.

Staring upward, your first words were, "I'm so sorry!"

The person, male, probably the same age as you, was tall for his age. As he turned, he muttered, "I-It's ok." His voice was muffled and quiet. Reaching his hand out for you to take, you grasped it, and he easily lifted you to your feet.

Once on your feet, you dusted the dirt off your pants, somewhat breathless from the fall. Peering upward at the male, you smiled. "Thank you very much. I'm Lyla. Are you by chance…Bertholdt?"

He tilted his head. "Yeah, that's me, but how did you…?"

You giggled. "Because we're both trying out for the Warrior Program today, that's why! I've seen you at the meeting and the pre-trainings."

"Oh. W-Well…" Bertholdt held out his hand, grasping yours as you reached out. "It's very nice to meet you, Lyla."

"I'm happy I could finally talk with you today."

"Huh?" He seemed perplexed. "Why me?"

"Because you're the only other potential candidate I haven't spoken to yet, silly! I've talked to everyone else, and you've always eluded me, Bertholdt."

Pink soon colored his cheeks. "I'm s-sorry about that."

You waved his apology off. "Nah, don't be. At least I can talk to you now. So…you ready to head to the first test? I'm excited to see who is chosen."

"I'm ready, but…" He rubbed the back of his neck and glanced away. "I…I think I'm lost."

"Really? Then don't worry because I know exactly where we need to be!" Taking hold of his hand, you began to drag Bertholdt away.

"A-Are you sure it's not too much trouble!"

You smiled. "Not at all!"

Walking by your side, Bertholdt peered down at you. "…you're very nice, Lyla."

Smiling up at the male, you nudged his side with an elbow. "Likewise, Bertholdt."

ERWIN

"To all the new members, I salute you!"

"Sir!"

It was night on the Scout Regiment induction, and you stood there proudly as you saluted your new Commander Erwin Smith. You obviously did not know him personally, seeing as you had just graduated from the Cadet Corp, but you had heard rumors of the notorious Scout Commander.

You had been fascinated with the Scouting Regiment when you decided to join the Military. You had never seen a titan but had heard stories from previous Scout members about the terror that lurked past the walls. Though the thought of fighting human-eating monsters did leave you terrified, you were left with a wondrous curiosity. What was the outside world like? Was the world just like it was within the walls? Could there be other people in the world you knew nothing about?

Questions upon questions have filtered your mind since you were young. But here you were, at the bright age of nineteen, about to embark on your next life journey.

Surrounding you were the other new members of the Scouts, your comrades. Several were transferring from different regiments, but most of the people you knew from your training days. Everyone mingled together as Commander Smith dismissed you, leaving everyone else a free night until they were to reconvene tomorrow morning. You waved and smiled to those familiar to you, but mostly, you kept to yourself. Though there were people you knew, all your close friends joined the Garrisons or the Military Police.

"Excuse me, Ms. …?"

Turning around, you noticed Commander Erwin Smith himself, who was now standing behind you. In between the time he had dismissed the recruits to now, only several moments later, he had moved from his position on stage to be with you.

Blinking, you were surprised to find him near you. Hell, you were a recruit; how did he already know your name? "Yes, Commander?"

The male waved his hand, a small smile appearing on his face. "Please, you can call me Erwin. I would like to speak with you tomorrow when we reach Headquarters. Can I expect you after breakfast?"

Eyes widening a fraction, you wondered what you had already done. It hadn't even been ten minutes since you were inducted as a Scout member; why was the Commander already seeking you out? Baffled, you quickly nodded your head. "Oh! O-Of course, sir!"

Erwin merely smiled as he tilted your head, knowing you had a question you wanted to ask.

Swallowing, you decided to take action. "May I…ask what this is in regards to?"

He nodded. "Well, I would only like to speak. I have a proposition for you, as you were the top of your class."

Oh.

You had already forgotten about that.

It was true; you had graduated as number one in your class, though it was just a number. You neither cared for the graduating position nor what it could grant you afterward. Since your goal had been the Scouts the entire time, you didn't care about being allowed to join the Military Police. All of that was folly on your end, considering you didn't like what the esteemed regiment stood for.

Smiling, you nodded as well. "I…that's not what I expected to hear so soon. I honestly thought I had already done something to be reprimanded for."

"No, no," Erwin reassured. "Nothing of the sort."

"Phew!" You tried stifling a giggle, but it released past your lips. "Then sure, I will be there tomorrow morning, no problem. Thank you, Comman…I mean…Erwin."

Your stutter brought a glint to the Commander's eyes as they crinkled slightly with his smile. He gripped your shoulder, tightening his fingers as he stared into your eyes before releasing. "Of course, and…congratulations, Lyla."

PORCO

One bright sunny day, you decided to take a walk through Liberio and headed straight towards the port. You loved looking out towards the ocean, the sea breeze blowing your hair, the smell and sound of the waves calming. As you made it towards your normal spot, you noticed someone sitting at the edge of the old fishing pier, a young male, probably close to your age. Walking closer, you could tell the boy was crying.

"Excuse me…are you ok…?"

Jumping slightly, the boy sat straighter, hastily clearing his face as he only slightly turned his face back towards you. "I don't know who you are but leave me the hell alone." Ignoring his statement, you closed the gap between him to steal the seat next to his side and sat down. "H-Hey! What the hell…?!"

"I came here to think, this is my spot. You think I'm gonna walk away just because you told me to?"

"Tch," the boy seethed, completely turning his head away from you.

Throwing your legs over the wooden edge, your toes barely touched the water as you stared at the open expanse, wondering what was out there. You'd heard of the 'island of devils' that was out there, always wondering what made them devils. If they were Eldian just like you, what made them so different? Casting a glance at the boy, you could see his eyes staring at you through his peripherals, but when he noticed your gaze, he peered away, focusing back on the ocean before him.

Swallowing, you said, "I don't know what's bothering you, but I hope everything is all right. I don't like seeing people cry."

"Why do you care?" He snapped. "You don't know me and I don't know you."

You shrugged your shoulders. "I'm Lyla," you suddenly said.

The boy tensed as he turned towards you. "What?"

"That's my name," you smiled. "You said you didn't know me, well, now you can."

"Tch, yeah whatever." Silence fell upon you both. What you thought felt like forever had only been several minutes when the boy moved his head in your direction. "…I'm Porco," he finally said.

Smiling more, you twisted around until you were facing him. "It's nice to meet you, Porco."

"It's nice to meet you too." Watching you carefully, he didn't copy your movement, but he did speak again. "…my…brother left this morning."

"Your brother left? This morning…oh. Is he a Warrior?" Porco nodded, ever watching the sea. Turning back to face the water, you scooted closer, placing your hand over his which lay on his thigh. "I'm very sorry to hear that. But, if he was chosen to be a Warrior, then he must be strong, right? He'll come back to you, don't worry."

"How do you know?"

"I don't, but sometimes…we need a little hope to get us through the day."

"…hey, Lyla?"

"Yeah?"

"You're…kinda weird."

His words caused you to chuckle, your smile brightening when you felt his fingers clench tightly around yours. "Heh, speak for yourself. Takes one to know one."

ZEKE

It was early morning; the sun had barely resurfaced as its eternal glow illuminated the world to a new day. You had been awake for some time, unable to bear the yelling and screams you heard from your mother and father. And so, per usual, you grabbed some belongings to keep you occupied and left the house. No one would notice you were gone. No one would care.

You rest your back against your favorite tree when you reach the nearest park. You packed some food, a blanket, and a baseball this morning. You didn't have any friends your age. Other than this older man named Tom Ksaver, you had no one in your life.

Watching the sunrise over the horizon left you feeling warm. Nothing brought a smile to your face, but the sun bearing down on your skin was one of them.

"Hey!"

Head snapping upward, your body reeled back, genuinely surprised to see someone else in the park this early.

Staring at the man, you were taken aback by his wile blonde hair and bright blue eyes. It seemed you had been staring too long when the man waved a hand before you, causing you to jerk away and blink.

"Is everything ok?" He asked gently.

You nodded. Looking at this young man, you couldn't tell his age. Maybe he was the same age as you, or maybe he was older. "Yeah, you just startled me; I didn't expect to see anyone else here this early."

"Me neither," the male said. "I usually meet a friend here, but he could not join me this morning." His eyes narrowed to the baseball in your hands. "Do you play?"

You glanced down, twirling the ball across your fingers. "This? Oh, I wish. No, normally I just…" You felt weird explaining what you usually did. "I throw the ball into the air and catch it alone."

"You don't have any friends?" You shook your head. "Well…how about we play then?"

You suddenly grinned, though confused. "Play?" You asked almost stupidly. "But…we don't even know each other."

"That's ok," he said confidently. "Anyone who likes baseball is a friend of mine." He reached down to grab my hand but quickly pulled back. "You do like baseball, right?"

His comment had you snickering, though you took his outstretched hand. "Yes, I like baseball."

"Great!" He smiled brightly.

Staring at that beautiful smile, you swooned.

Standing to your feet, you suddenly remembered. "Oh! I haven't even told you my name! I'm Lyla."

"Lyla? Wow, that's a pretty name. I'm Zeke, it's nice to meet you!"

Taking the ball, Zeke walked about ten feet away before pulling back and tossing the ball, landing perfectly in your hands. "You know, this is my favorite pastime!"

"Really? Mine too. Well, I like to read as well."

"Read, huh? I do read in my spare time, but I prefer to hang out with my friend, Tom."

You tossed the ball back as he had just given it to you. "I also have a friend named Tom. He taught me how to play baseball."

You threw it to him.

"What, really? Same here! What's his last name?"

He tossed it back.

"Umm…" You had to think for a moment. "Tom Ksaver, I think."

"That's my friend! No way!"

This had you smiling. You had walked out the door of your violent home this morning thinking you'd be alone. Well, low and behold, there was someone else out there who liked baseball and knew Tome. You were excited to get to know this Zeke and couldn't wait for the friendship that it would bring.

~ oOo ~

I copied and pasted the "When You First Meet" from Porco and Zeke's individual chapters. Their scenarios were already in the format I wanted to use :)

DragonGoddess629