Chapter Text
The month was August and the town of Trost was in the middle of a heat wave. Down a well-worn dirt road, there was a spread of woods to the left and farther down yet on the right was a house. Though, if one wanted to give a more accurate description, the house was more of a mansion. Encircling that mansion was a wrought iron fence and within that fence is a young man of fifteen. A normal person would blanch at the thought of willingly sitting out in the sun’s hot rays, but Jean Kirstein was an exception. While his home was cooler in temperature, the atmosphere was another matter. Disagreements between Jean and his parents were common, and Jean had just stormed out of a particularly heated one.
Jean didn’t leave the house grounds often, if ever. Schooling was provided from tutors, and anything he could ever need was brought to him. That wasn’t always necessarily a bad thing, but staying cooped up with no one but overprotective parents and the occasional visitor to talk to had grown rather dull. So there he was; crouching in the baked, dry grass by an oppressive (in his opinion) fence, chatting it up with an amphibian. Or more specifically, it was a toad.
“Hey little guy, are you hot too?” he asked it. It didn’t even move. “Do you have family?” The silence continued. “If you don’t, you're not missing out on anything.” He sighed then looking up at the sky, “It’s not all sunshine and rainbows no matter what it looks like.”
Don’t get him wrong though, he loved his parents. Jean just wanted to make some decisions for himself, to have someone to talk to. Someone who was not less than an inch tall with warts. They rested in peace for a while longer until Jean didn’t think he could stand the weather any longer. As if in response, the small creature hopped anyway into some bushes. Jean huffed, “Thanks for nothing you useless little shit,” standing up he brushed a few small blades of grass off his trousers. Just as he turned, Jean caught a figure in the corner of his eye moving swiftly towards him.
“Excuse me, but do you live here?” The older man inquired.
Jean held back a smart-ass reply and simply responded “yeah” in the most vapid tone he could manage. The stranger seemed unperturbed by Jean’s demeanor and continued.
“Your family owns those woods,” the man gestured behind him, “over there, correct?”
At this Jean became cautious. Some guy shows up out of the blue and asks about their property? Furthermore, he was wearing a dark green suit on a hot day. Who even does that? Not to mention his humongous caterpillar eyebrows. Eventually, Jean reasoned there could be no harm in acknowledging a well-known truth.
“Yeah” Jean was feeling so talkative today. Dark Suit Man furrowed said eyebrows, finally catching on to Jean’s tone. The man switched his line of questioning to topics that bordered small talk. It was along the lines of ‘My, can you believe this weather?’ or ‘What are your thoughts concerning the new mayor?” and so on so forth. Jean shouldn’t have felt so comfortable, but it was a pleasant change to have a conversation that didn’t revolve around what he was going to do with his future.
“So have you ever seen anything… strange,” he paused, raising one of his caterpillar eyebrows, “out there?”
Shaken by the sudden change, Jean felt a certain animosity towards Dark Suit Man. Jean resolved that this man was not going to learn anything more from him.
“Well if I did, why do you think I would tell you?” The young man was so done by then. The frustrations of the day caught up to him and he stalked back to the marginally cooler interior of his home. He looked back only when he was safely inside. The inquisitive stranger was still there, staring out at the trees across the road. “Damn weirdo” he muttered. Then Jean gave it no more thought. There wasn’t much to tell.
That night, what Jean did think about was the woods. They were technically his. Why shouldn’t he be able to explore them? That decided it. Early next morning Jean decided to sneak out, climb the fence and spend part of the day there. To hell with the consequences and whatever his parents would throw at him. Tomorrow Jean was going to be free.
The escape went without a hitch; the day was Saturday and the time five in the morning. There was almost nobody about. Jean managed not to wake anyone up and crossed the fence without falling off it or ripping something. He would have just used the gate, but it was too squeaky. On the way out he noticed the toad. Smiling to himself, he was unreasonably happy that it hadn’t left permanently after he snapped at it. Munching an apple he grabbed from a tree, Jean slipped into the forest with little trepidation. Despite the heat, the forest was quite cool. The canopy provided shade and there was even a hint of a breeze. He marveled at the dense foliage. Sure Jean had been around trees, but never so many and all alone to boot.
Apple gone, Jean experimented with climbing the trees. He had done this before as a child but that had been a long time ago. Small creatures skittered in the branches overhead. At one point a thought dawned on him. He had brought nothing with him and had no idea how long he had been wandering. Long enough for him to become thirsty. Jean was disgusted with himself. How could he have been so thoughtless? Once he gets a drink he decided that it would be time to head back. The morning had been fun, but Jean’s plan hadn’t been thought through enough to allow for more time.
Jean stumbled around for nearly another half an hour before hearing something that might be running water ahead. Unbeknownst to him, Jean had been so focused on finding water that he stopped paying attention to where he had come from. He’d soon realize this when he thought about going home.
It was, in fact, water. It was a small spring at the base of a larger than average oak. That wasn’t what (who) he was staring at though. There was someone, a male, bending over by the spring. Seemingly oblivious to Jean’s presence, Jean chose not to speak up. After all, this guy was trespassing and Jean should see what he was up to and… He tried to rationalize why he was staying out of sight, but deep down he knew it was just for the view.
This had been a constant source of anxiety for him recently. Jean was… different and he knew it. Sure he still appreciated a good looking girl when he saw one, but was it wrong to think about fellow men like that too? From what he’d heard, yes. His parents… well he wasn’t planning on asking them about it anytime soon.
Speaking of which, they were going to be furious when he returns and the longer he waited the harder it was going to be to talk his way out of punishment. As much as he would like to get to know this guy he really had to get back. Then again, he was really thirsty and maybe he could receive some directions… During Jean’s indecision, he had shifted his weight and had managed to break a twig.
The youth froze and prayed to whoever might be listening that the other would just dismiss the noise as some forest animal. Jean never had the best of luck. The figure turned and Jean noticed he had freckles adorning his sun-tanned skin.
“Is someone there?” his voice quivering slightly, his eyes straining to see beyond the edge of the trees where the sound had come from.
Against Jeans better judgment, he spoke up. “Um, yeah.” ‘Smooth Kirstein’ Jean thought, mentally kicking himself. Jean came out from behind the tree, taking a few steps in and looking like he just had been caught talking to toad again. “I was just… taking a walk.” Jean was never going to admit that he was (just a little, mind you) lost.
“Oh really?” Freckle Face had the nerve to smile, as if sensing the lie.
“Yes, really!” He exclaimed. Jean smiled innocently and tried to lean against the tree in a casual manner that would indicate his right to be there. Except that he did have the right. Freckles was the interloper. “You know, my family owns this land.” It was said as more of a statement than a question.
His eyes widened in panic and Jean felt immediate guilt. That was really strange for him because Freckles should be worried. Jean could report him or something. After another look at Freckles, stumbling over his words, Jean concluded that he didn’t actually care. He looked like a decent person and probably didn’t even know that this stretch of land was owned.
“Not like I care though” Jean added quickly fearing the young boy might get the wrong idea from his earlier statement. After a lifetime of isolation even a trespasser was a better conversationalist than a toad. The panicked look faded from the boy’s face and Jean relaxed a little “My name is Jean, Jean Kirstein by the way” Jean said, the young boy started to reply but before the boy could say anything Jean stuttered out, “but most people call me Jean, you can too if you like.” He could feel his face redden as he realized he had just talked over the boy. He began to apologize, but the boy had started to laugh a slow chuckle that annoyed Jean to no end. The boy stopped laughing then, and looked into Jean’s face.
The boy grinned then, a slow one that spreads from one cheek into another. “Well then, it is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Marco, Marco Bodt.” the darker skinned youth said, whilst grinning like the Cheshire Cat. “And if I’m going to call you Jean, you might as well call me Marco” Jean was mildly pleased when Marco pronounced his French name correctly.
That sentiment fell unto a awkward silence as Jean using the moment to consider Marco in greater detail, he noted that Marco was only just a hair taller than himself. Also, his clothes seemed to be a bit out of date. Jean couldn't quite verify this as he wasn’t on top of the latest fashion himself. He inwardly cringed as he thought of how his mother still chose outfits for Jean to wear.
Jean’s pondering led to an tense silence.
“Since you own this area how did you become lost?” Marco asked shifting his weight with a smile. Again with the smiling, thought Jean. It wasn’t even a smirk, just genuine friendliness. That realization irked Jean to no end. He couldn’t even be annoyed that this complete stranger was questioning his abilities.
“I’m not lost, okay?” Jean could at least try to sound annoyed, but at best sounded flustered; “I’m just a little… turned around, that’s all” he finished with downcast eyes and a huff.
Marco chuckled. “I’m fairly familiar with this neck of the woods… that is if you want some help” he offered shyly.
Jean dragged the toe of his shoe through the dirt. “Actually-” he stopped and remembered exactly why he was there in the first place. “Actually, I was just about to head back when I heard the water,” Jean continued, looking up “I haven’t had any since this morning and I’m kind of thirsty.” With this announcement Jean gestured for the brunette to clear the way and began to walk in the direction of the gurgling spring.
Panic once again flashed across the brunette’s face.
“Wait!” Marco exclaimed, stepping in front of Jean, and blocking his path. “That’s not a good idea.”
Jean raised a single eyebrow. “But you were just drinking from it.”
“Funny thing that,” His voice trailed off and after a series of conflicted expressions Marco decided on “Well, it doesn’t taste very good; you wouldn’t like it.”
Jean snorted at the half-assed excuse. “Marco. You were drinking for,” he paused to think of a possible time, “what, five minutes?”
Marco blanched at that and began stuttering out something along the lines of “I have an acquired taste...” The taller youth hesitated and squinted, looking Jean full in the face, asking “Just how long were you watching me?”
Jean reddened. He wasn’t about to admit that he’d been staring at him for well…. never mind that. Thankfully he was saved from answering by a voice coming from out of nowhere.
“Marco, who’s this?” Suddenly a female of probable Asian origin was next to Marco. She stood just inside the ring of trees. Jean considered her to be beautiful, but her hard expression ruined the effect.
“Mikasa! I didn’t hear you approaching.” Marco smiled weakly. She stared at him harder (if that was even possible). “This is Jean and he was just leaving. Right, Jean?” Marco gave him a pointed look, his eyes pleading with Jean’s own to comply. It was almost funny up until the one called Mikasa, rolling her eyes, grabbed his wrist with a grip like iron and drug Jean vaguely in the direction she came from.
“Let’s go, Marco.” she stated without further ado. Jean looked at Marco, silently asking what the hell was happening.
“Mikasa, wait I don’t think...!” That’s all Marco could say about the matter as she forced Jean to mount a horse on a path just outside the clearing with the spring.
“He’s seen too much.” she snapped cutting him off before he finished his sentence. Mikasa mounted the horse opposite to Jean’s. Next to her was a rider he hadn’t noticed before. She was blonde and her facial expression could be described as disinterested at the most. She didn't even acknowledgeJean's presence.
Marco’s shoulders slouched and he smiled apologetically at Jean. Before Marco mounted up and sat just behind Jean on the horse and reached forward to grasp the reins. Suddenly conscious of the proximity of the guy he had been checking out only minutes earlier, Jean forgot about his possible kidnapping. Then the horse lurched forward and the day-dreaming youth was brought back to reality. Idiot he thought to himself. Jean had had a perfect opportunity to jump off and escape these strange people. Then he reflected that even if he hadn’t been distracted, he probably wouldn’t have gotten off anyway.
Jean had been on a horse before, his family even owned a few, but after an unfortunate incident involving one of the creatures a few years back… let’s just say he hadn’t taken up riding after that. Also, he had developed nervousness around them. Scratch that, it was an understatement. He was terrified. While the growth flew past on the barely worn path, Jean desperately hoped that Marco behind him didn’t feel his change in posture as Jean leaned into Marco’s incidental embrace.
While Jean was quite comfortable, or at least as comfortable as one could be on the back of a gigantic, terrifying creature called a horse, but he figured the arrangement was less convenient for Marco.
He turned his head so his ear was towards Marco. “Hey, Marco!” Jean had to raise his voice a bit then to make sure the brunet could hear him. “Why am I in front?”
He couldn't see Marco’s face, but there was sympathy in his voice. “Sorry about that! Mikasa wanted to make sure you couldn’t get away.” Marco chuckled awkwardly. “By the way, the blonde is Annie Arlert.” He said nodding his head in her direction.
Jean glanced then at the two other riders. They both rode quite well despite their wearing dresses. The whole situation felt surreal to him; what exactly did he know too much about and why was he letting himself be taken. Or the real question, Jean thought to himself, to where was he being taken.
“Where are we going?” They were out of his family’s woods and onto a proper path by then.
“Well,” replied Marco, “we’re going to our cabin!” That did not make Jean feel better whatsoever. For all he knew these people were outlaws and he had found their hangout. Perfect. You’ve done it know Kirstein. Looking ahead, Jean could just make out a figure. He was astounded that he recognized the man.
“Hey!” Jean had never got his name. “Sir, I’ve-” his exclamation was cut short by Mikasa.
“We’re giving him riding lessons.” It was a weak excuse and she seemed to know it. With a quick glance he could tell she was worried.
The man in the green suit (seriously, were green suits all he owned) merely stood and watched the two horses fly by. Maybe Jean shouldn’t have been so rude yesterday. That’s karma for you.
It was only a half an hour ride to their destination. The cabin was of decent size and Jean could only wonder how many of them lived there. Marco slid off the horse while Mikasa addressed a boy sitting on the porch.
“What are you doing out here Armin?” she questioned.
Armin, who had blond hair that went past his ears, replied that he didn’t want to be in the house. Jean didn’t quite catch the rest of their conversation because it was his turn to dismount. Mikasa shouted something and went into the home, but Jean was entirely focused on the hand Marco was offering him.
When Mikasa returned with two slightly disheveled men, Annie had already sat next to Armin and placed her head on his shoulder.
“Hey guys who’s this?” Armin spoke up. He seemed a little uncertain, but friendly.
“Ask Marco.” Mikasa stated. Jean made a mental to avoid her for a while; she was… tense for the lack of a better word. Marco stiffened as all attention shifted to him.
“This is Jean…” he stammered. The tension in the air was palpable.
“So what’s he doing here,” asked one of the newcomers bluntly. He was on the short side, but definitely the oldest there. He also was wearing a cravat. When Marco didn’t answer Mikasa said that Jean had ‘seen the spring’. There was a collective gasp, except from Unamused Cravat who simply raised an eyebrow.
“How much exactly did he see?” inquired the brunette standing next to the man Jean still didn’t know the name of. The conversation evolved into an argument that reminded him of an inside ‘joke’. They all knew what they were talking about, but Jean was left in the dark while he was simultaneously also mentioned like he wasn’t standing there listening to every word. Jean started sensing that there was more to the water in the clearing than he had previously thought. What could have made it worth kidnapping him for?
“Can someone just tell me what this is all about!?” Jean shouted and then added in a quieter voice, “I didn’t ask to be brought here.”
“Kid’s right,” said Levi (Jean had gleaned that bit of information during the little argument). “He should know, but I didn’t make lunch so that it would go cold.”
“Oh so that’s what you two were doing in there,” Armin added dryly. Levi made a noise that sounded like ‘tch’ and walked back through the doorway. The brunette, now standing on his own, looked uncomfortable. His gaze fell on Jean. He smirked and Jean glared back. Jean didn’t see how lunch with this strange group was the answer to his question, but he was hungry.
“But what about-?” Jean began, but he never finished.
“Come on,” said Marco, once again his cheery self. “I think Eren and Levi cooked perch.” So that’s what his name was. Marco, Mikasa, Armin, Annie, Levi and Eren. He had woken up that morning barely knowing a soul and now he knew six. Albeit he knew very little about them, but Jean had a feeling that they wouldn’t be strangers for very long. They all filed into the cabin; Marco grabbing Jean’s hand so that he wasn’t left behind. Not as if Jean was going to leave at this point. He couldn’t steal a horse nor could he walk all that way. Part of him was genuinely curious about the big secret too. Mikasa was the last one in line, but stormed down the steps with a last minute apology that she was going for a walk and not to wait for her. Annie, who had been quiet for the most part, excused herself as well and followed her.
Inside, Jean marveled at how spotless the surfaces were. For a home run by shady characters in the middle of nearly nowhere, it wasn’t exactly what Jean was expecting. Jean looked at Marco. Well, not all of them were shady. The late lunch went smoothly. There was a rectangular table that could comfortably seat eight in the middle of the dining area. Levi and Eren sat next to each other while Armin sat across from Marco who was sitting next to Jean. Armin and Marco had a steady conversation about things that had to be done outside later, the weather and general everyday things. On occasion Levi or Eren would add something. Jean thought he’d be able to slide by without joining in, but the girls returned halfway through. Mikasa sat on Marco’s other side and Annie by Armin. As if they had been waiting for Mikasa and Annie to return, Marco turned to him.
"Jean, what exactly were you doing out there?” He questioned, his warm, brown eyes staring intently into Jean’s own. He didn’t quite know the answer himself. The trek was mostly a way to escape, to get away from authority; if only for a small amount of time. He couldn’t say that though. Jean wasn’t about to dump his personal problems on these strangers so that they would feel sorry for him or something.
“They are my woods; I was doing whatever the hell I wanted.” Jean crossed his arms. Levi’s hand shot across the table lightning fast and grabbed the youth’s shirt collar.
“Shitty brat! Enough with the bullshit this is serious!” Jean winced but otherwise wasn’t fazed.
“Hey,” he retaliated, “you people dragged me into this mess. I think you should be explaining the ones explaining yourselves.” Levi obviously had more to say on that subject, but Armin interjected.
“Jean, what are your views on immortality?” The inquiry caught Jean off guard.
“I’m not sure,” he began slowly; “to be honest I haven't thought about it much.”
Armin, who was the most willing to talk, began the story.
“You know of the war of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain, correct?” He inquired. Jean nodded. He did learn a few things from his tutors after all. “Well,” Armin paused and took a deep breath, “we fought in it.”
He couldn’t believe it. Most everyone sitting at the table looked his age and Levi didn’t look a day over thirty. Jean opened his mouth to say this, but was cut off.
“I know it’s hard to believe, but let me continue alright?” Jean stayed quiet. “Eren, Mikasa and myself all enlisted while we were underage. Mikasa disguised herself as man to go with Eren and keep him out of trouble.” At this Eren scowled while Mikasa gave a small smile. “Levi was the captain of our group when we became separated. It’s a long story and frankly the details are not that important, but six of us had to find our way back.”
Jean did the math and while there were six of them there, he got the feeling that they weren’t all part of the group of six Armin mentioned.
“There was Eren, Mikasa, Marco, myself and two others. I can’t remember their names…” he trailed off.
“Reiner and Bertholdt” Mikasa supplied quietly. An eerie silence fell upon them. Eren looked especially lost in past memories.
Armin nodded. “How could I have forgotten?” He sighed. “Except for Reiner and Bert, we had emptied our canteens. When we stumbled upon a spring you can imagine our joy.”
Jean didn’t think the spring was a coincidence.
“We drank as much as we could and filled our canteens as well. They had refused to drink because they worried the unknown source could give them lake fever. We were worried too, but it was either that or die of thirst. Even with our fellow soldiers water it wouldn't have lasted long.” Armin ended there and bowed his head. Marco took it upon himself to fill Jean in.
“It tasted like any other water- or at least it did to me, but it felt different. I can’t explain it; it just did.” Is he saying that there was magical water? Jean thought. It seemed too fantastic to be true.
“It wasn’t until we went into battle did we realize exactly how that water changed our lives forever.” Eren laughed humorlessly. “Forever. Ain’t that the truth.”
Marco resumed, “I- I lost most of my right side to a mortar explosion and Eren was missing both an arm and a leg.” Jean looked at Marco as casually as possible. He was pretty sure that Marco was all there from when he had been looking at him earlier. Marco was indeed whole, yet there was a faint scar running down his forehead, cheek and mouth. Jean resisted the urge to run his finger down it.
“We should have died like so many others, like Reiner and Bertholdt, but we didn’t. Given time everything grew back.”
“So you’re saying…?” Jean thought he understood, however, he didn’t want to jump to conclusions.
Marco simply stated “We cannot die,” with a perfectly straight face. The young man leaned back into the chair. During the story he had been unconsciously leaning forward. “We have to move from place to place so that we aren't discovered.”
“Wait a moment,” Jean began slowly, “What about Annie and Levi?”
Eren scoffed and began to stand as if to yell, for the fourth time that evening might I add. Until Levi, with a smirk, put his hand on Eren’s shoulder and forced the runt back into the chair hard enough that he grunted.
“About fifty years ago now,” Armin began, “I was delivering some packages to a nearby town. When I met her, she was a local bar maid. One of the customers was giving me a hard time- up until she body checked him out the door. We talked after she was done with her shift. Turns out her father had been a Canadian Mountie trained in martial arts.”
Annie shot a look that said ‘I will burn you’. “But that’s beside the point. At any rate, after that night we started seeing each other in secret. After a year,” Armin said reaching over to grab Annie’s hand under the table, “I was totally in love with her, and when the time came for my family to leave again, I told her about the spring. She drank and came with us. And I never regretted it for a second.” Annie blushed giving Armin a smile. About time she changed that scowl. I was starting to think it had frozen that way Jean thought.
“As for Levi,” Armin said with a sly smile, “I have a theory.” Eren groaned and Levi took a sip from his cup. Jean noticed Levi held the cup strangely.
Though after noticing the look both Eren and Levi shot him, Armin managed to stammer out, “But maybe I’ll just tell you later,” He gave a hesitant smile in the direction of the two and apparently he found what he was looking for, because the panic on his face suddenly lessened... Jean wondered what exactly he was missing out on. By this time Eren was sporting a faint blush. Glancing past Marco, who was smiling once again, he saw Mikasa looking across the table… guiltily? His attention was diverted when the person sitting next to him gently poked his arm.
“Are you okay with all this? I know it’s a lot to take in, but I hope you understand now why I had to stop you.” Jean nodded slowly. “And you can’t tell anyone Jean. In the wrong hands….” Marco stopped and let him fill the blanks in on his own.
For the rest of the afternoon, Jean asked them questions about the specifics of their immortality and they would tell him about people and places they had seen. Supposedly, Marco was physically only a year older than him, but had lived for about a century. Also, they made frequent visits to Trost despite the threat of discovery.
True to his word, Armin filled him in on his theory as an aside. Apparently, Levi had kissed Eren soon after he had drunk from the spring, though the two in question neither confirmed nor denied it.
“We just have no idea how much water is necessary to gain immortality; that small amount must have been enough,” Armin finished. Jean was surprised for not the first time that day. Levi and Eren openly together? It went against everything he knew. Jean felt a glimmer of hope for himself.
As the night wore on, only Marco and Jean were still talking. Annie had left first and both she and Mikasa were reading books. Levi dragged Eren away when Eren and Jean got into an argument that mostly involved name calling. Armin and Marco talked about their lives before the war which prompted Jean to discuss his own. Jean had never had someone listen to him with such rapt attention before. He nodded his head at all the right times, but more than that he held eye contact. Marco would sympathize and chuckle softly when Jean said anything remotely amusing. The blond boy would do anything to hear that infectious sound again. When the sun had fully set, Armin retired to bed with Annie following close behind him. Undeterred by the late hour, they had continued talking at the dining room table.
“So Marco,” Jean began, “What do you do for fun?” Marco swirled the tea in his glass absently.
“Well, it depends on your definition. I work with Eren at the bakery every day except Saturdays and Sundays; that’s enjoyable. I also help take care of the animals in the barn out back. Fun for the sake of fun though? I don’t know. Usually people are too busy for casual pastimes, but even with all the time in the world I’m still not sure what to do.” Jean bit his lip. That wasn’t the direction he wanted this to go. He thought surely someone who couldn’t die would do something crazy at least every once in a while.
“What about you Jean?” Jean considered this. Staying home most of the day since he didn’t have a job yet made his life dull.
“You know, this is probably the most fun I’ve ever had.”
“Really?” Marco’s tone was incredulous.
“Definitely! I’m out of the house, I went into the woods by myself and… and I’m here talking to you.”
Marco absolutely glowed. “Thanks, I like talking to you too.”
He wasn’t sure how long they sat there, or why Mikasa was still awake, but what Jean did know was that he was falling asleep in the chair. Jean yawned and rested his head on the table. He wished he knew what time it was. Marco pushed back his chair and crossed the room to Mikasa. He asked her if she wouldn’t mind sleeping on the couch that night. Jean couldn’t hear her quiet response. A hand touched his shoulder.
“Come on sleepyhead, we need the rest.” Marco told him softly. Jean struggled into a standing position. To the right and down a short hallway was a room with a single bed, a dresser and a few odds and ends. Marco reached into the dresser and pulled out two nightshirts, tossing one to Jean.
“I suppose you didn’t have time to grab one before we brought you here, huh?”
Jean huffed. “Brought? It was more of a kidnapping. I swear I have a bruise on my wrist from where Mikasa grabbed me.” In the time Jean had used to turn, the freckled man had already changed. Tucked under the covers, Marco chuckled.
“That doesn’t surprise me.” He closed his eyes. Jean changed and got into the bed as well. The borrowed night shirt smelled faintly of soap, but there was something else too. He thought it might be the scent of fresh cut wood.
“You said Mikasa had to sleep on the couch tonight. Where does she usually sleep?”
“Well, Annie and Armin don’t actually live here. They have a house a couple of towns over in Shiganshina. They visit late Friday and Saturday, and return early Sunday morning because of the long ride. This means that while they stay here Mikasa has to give up her room and we share this one.”
Jean’s heart dropped. Were Marco and Mikasa…? It almost made sense. Levi and Eren were together (Jean suddenly became suspicious of what they had been doing when he had arrived) and so were Armin and Annie. That left Mikasa and Marco single. Marco continued speaking through Jean’s reverie.
“But we couldn’t have you sleeping on the couch near the door; it would be too easy for you to wander off.” Feeling a little hurt he asked:
“You don’t trust me?” Marco rolled over to face him.
“I do, however not everyone else does.”
Before drifting into the dark fog that is sleep, Jean wondered why he hadn’t asked when they were going to let him go home yet.