Chapter Text
You stand in line beside some other new cadets. It’s still your first week since you joined the scouts and all of you are being given cleaning duty and other tasks as such. You still haven’t become familiar with the place and so the day before you had accidentally entered a prohibited room. You had gotten caught and tried to explain that it was an accident but they got even angrier at you for talking back so for the next few days you were given the task of sweeping and mopping the entire floor of the building. This wasn’t some small building either. You were in charge of floors one and two. You truly dreaded joining the scouts now. You expected to be out there training and slaying titans but instead you were going to be sweeping floors, alone.
As soon as everyone else was done receiving their tasks, you were all dismissed. You walked over to the supplies room and grabbed a broom, mop, and bucket. You proceeded to walk over to the entrance and set your stuff aside while you took the bucket out to fill it with water. As you waited for the bucket to fill you overheard some screaming. It was coming from two guys. One had dark hair and the other had lighter hair. They seemed to be arguing and you heard the darker haired one scream “Shut up horse face!”. You looked over at the taller guy to see how he’d re act and surely enough they both started throwing punches. “Yikes” you thought to yourself and hurried back inside before Levi caught you slacking.
You step inside and grab the broom to sweep around. You Make sure to sweep every edge, every corner, every single inch. Captain Levi made it very clear that if he spotted a grain of dirt, he’d make you start all over again. As you cleaned you thought to yourself, “How could it be the first week and I am already on the captain’s bad side.” You sighed as you collected the pile of dust and threw it in the nearest trash pile. It had taken about 10 mins for just this entrance hall, and you still had to mop it. You grabbed the mop and wet it in the bucket before starting on the far end of the hall. You mopped left and right and left and right as you walked backwards. Making sure to erase every foot print, one by one. For a moment you were actually enjoying it, it was satisfying and on top of that you had found a good rhythm. Surely this didn’t last much longer as you neared the door. Still walking backwards. You had finished this floor and you held a satisfied smile on your face. Suddenly the doors swung open and muddy shoes walked in. They left muddy foot prints and you looked up to catch the devil’s face. It was none other than the tall guy with light hair from earlier. You widened your eyes as you thought about all the hard work that had just been compromised and you yelled at him.
“Hey!! Stop walking! You’re leaving a mud trail everywhere!” You exaggerated a bit as the man had only walked like 6 steps in.
The man jumped at the sudden yelling coming from you. He hadn’t even noticed you were there. In the sudden jump scare he stepped back and kicked over the full bucket of water.
“Wha-” The tall man slipped and landed right on the water.
You let out a loud laughter and the man looked at you with a frown. He tried to get up but failed to do so and slipped again. You were having the time of your life when suddenly you heard a familiar stern voice approaching the hall.
“Hey what’s all the commotion!” exclaimed Levi.
“This guy came in and started leaving mud trails all over the hall I just cleaned and then he had the audacity to kick the bucket! Literally!” you explained.
“I have a name you know!” said the fallen man as he rubbed his elbow to ease the pain.
“Is that true Jean?” Levi lifted a brow
“Not at all Captain. They’re lying! I walked in not knowing that the floor had just been cleaned and so I accidentally left a mud trail. And then this gremlin here yelled at me to scare me and I accidentally kicked the water.”
“Yeah yeah whatever, why are you walking in here with mud on your boots in the first place? Now get off your ass and help y/n clean up.” Levi scolded.
“Yes sir.” Answered Jean.
As captain Levi walked away, you carefully walked towards Jean to help him get up but he just refused your help.
“Look, it’s really not my fault you fell, I really didn’t mean to scare you. If anything I should be the one angry at you. I had finally finished mopping this floor and you messed it all up.”
As Jean got up he scoffed and wringed his wet shirt. “Are you new here?”
“I am, yes.” you replied
“Fine, I’ll let this slide. Usually someone puts a sign or something, you know.” He emphasized on the word sign. “What’s your name again?”
“I’m y/n. This is actually my first week.”
“Off to a great start huh. I’m Jean, Jean Kirstein. I’ve been here a few years. Don’t worry things get better. I promise you won’t be cleaning forever. Well, I may not be a good example given the situation.” He chuckled.
You laughed with him.
“I’m sorry about my attitude. Eren has really been getting on my nerves today.”
“Is that the guy that called you horse face?” you asked.
“When did yo-” he sighed “yeah. We are always getting on each other’s nerves but today he just really got to me.”
“I can see that, you have a few bruises and a cut on your face.” you reach for a napkin you had on you and quickly go rinse it with some clean water. You come back and clean Jean’s face, focusing on the dried blood.
“You really didn’t have to do that. But thank you.” He smiled.
“Don’t worry about it. I wasn’t about to just let you help around with dry blood on your face.” You fold the napkin and put it away to clean it later. “Alright well let’s get to cleaning.”
You two start cleaning and as the day goes on you two get well acquainted. Jean tells you a little more about him but he mostly just asks you questions about your life. He explained his relationship with his friends and his past experiences with the scouts. He gives you some advice here and there and eventually offers to take you under his wing. He tell you that he can help you train and you agree. It’s safe to say that this is the start of a beautiful friendship.
A few halls later and the day is coming to an end. Levi comes back to you guys to let you know that you can stop for the day, only after he inspected the floors first. You were sure he would have you cleaning all night if you had failed his judgement. Jean held up his hand and you high fived him. The both of you put the supplies back where they go.
“Alright y/n, I’ve got to meet up with some friends but it was nice cleaning with you. I’ll see you tomorrow alright. Take care” he said before walking away and waving bye to you.
“Jean Kirstein huh? What a nice guy.” You thought. You left the room and walked to your room. Being extra careful to not walk into the wrong hall or room.