Shhhh, This The Fanfic Place

You stared at the price of the plane ticket, your heart sinking. The holidays were coming up, and you couldn’t afford to go home- at least by flying, but it would be a long drive.

Pieck watched you quietly, unsure what to say. She quietly pulled out her phone and texted Porco, discreetly taking a picture of you to emphasize the situation (you thought you were hiding your emotions well, but it was obvious).

The read receipt popped up but no response- until Marcel texted her and told her that Porco nearly fell down the stairs in his rush to his car while he called their mom.

Pieck explained the situation to him, to which Marcel replied with a picture of a puppy with hearts over its eyes.

Within the next 30 minutes, you nearly leapt from your skin as a series of frantic knocks sounded at your door. Opening it, you found Porco standing there, out of breath, haired messed up, your favorite takeout in hand.

“What are you doing here?” You ask, stifling a laugh.

“I heard someone was in need,” He declared pushing passed you. He plopped teh food down on the counter and turned to get a good look at you. Your eyes were puffy and your face wore all the signs of silent tears. He frowned at you. “Looks like my source was right.”

“I’ll be fine…” You say, shooting Pieck a look. She gave you a little wave, knowing she made the right decision in the end.

“Well, I’ve had your predicament explained to me,” He told you. He pulled your food out of the bag and began setting it up for you. “You can’t afford to go home for the holidays, can you?”

“Nope…” You sighed quietly. “Last minute tickets are expensive and I don’t have the money to drive all the way there- It’s long enough of a drive that I’d have to stay somewhere over night….”

“I thought you only live a few hours away?” He asked as you grabbed the food and made for the living room. You plopped down onto the couch and dropped your head.

“My parent’s live a few hours away- but for the holidays, we all go to my Grandparent’s home which is further away. Everyone in the family converges and its a whole little holiday party,” You explained. “Far enough from here that it’d be a multi-day drive.

“Well….” He paused.

“I’m sorry to hear about that,” Pieck said for him- she knew he was eager to tell you what he got set up for you. Porco joined you in the living room, sitting down.

“I talked with my mother… My parent’s said that they’re always welcome to having more people over for the holidays,” He revealed.

“Meaning… I spend the holiday’s with your family?” You asked shyly.

“The Galliard’s are good cooks- I’d take them up on that offer,” Pieck told you.

“My parent’s love having company over- they’d have you stay for as long as you wanted to,” Porco told you. “We have a guest bedroom that you could stay in if you wanted.”

“I wouldn’t want to intrude on your holiday, Porco, I-”

“Listen, my parents have a million people in and out of the house during the holidays. You’d just be one more person- and you’d be someone they liked,” He assured you.

“It’s true,” Pieck added. “They throw parties for their business partners and have a ton of family over. It’s not a close family event.”

You paused for a long moment, mulling over their words. Spend the holidays alone and sad, unable to go home or…. Spend the holiday’s with your best friend and his family.

“.... I don’t know how I can say no to an offer like that,” You revealed with a sigh, smiling softly at Porco. He returned your smile with a giant grin.

“It’ll be fun, I promise.”

Your first semester at your dream university ended. You and your friends made it through exams and you were finally free for winter break. Free to kick back, relax, and…. Worry about what you were going to wear to Porco’s house.

Pieck had gone home so there was no one to help you- you were on your own.

The oven dinged and you ran into the kitchen, pulling the brownies out of the oven- they smelled delicious- but you resisted. They were for the party.

Setting them into a carry container, you ran back to your room and decided to throw a sweater over a button up shirt, a nice skirt, leggings underneath, and wintery boots. You had a small bag of extra clothes packed (you only wanted to stay the night, but you knew Porco would try to convince you to stay longer) and another bag with presents you managed to buy for them.

You turned everything in your apartment off and took a deep breath before heading for your car, shuffling down the stairs with everything in hand.

You were prepared…

“Holy shit, they’re rich,” You marveled, letting a swear slip past your lips as you stared at their house. It was huge! The only reason you knew you were at the right place was Porco’s car parked out front.

You approached the front door, nervously knocking the door. A few seconds later, a woman who looked marvelously like Porco and Marcel answered the door.

“H-Hello!” You nervously greeted. “I-I’m Porco’s friend, (Y/N). H-He said I could come over?”

“OH! So you’re (Y/N)?!” The woman gasped. She stepped aside so you could leave the cold. “I’m the boys’ mother- the names’ Gia, Gia Galliard. My husband’s name is Henry- he’s the man over there!”

Looking around her, you spotted a man who looked somewhat like Marcel, but older and rougher. He stood aways away, speaking with a group of people.

“O-Oh! I u-uh. I made brownies for the party,” you told Mrs. Galliard, showing the pan in your arms. Her eyes lit up and she took them from you.

“I’ll put these in the dining room for you-” She told you with a smile before turning and shouting, “PORCO! YOUR GIRLFRIEND’S HERE!”

“I-I’m not his-” You began quietly, but his mother walked away before she could hear you.

“Not my girlfriend!” Porco called out to his mother, correcting her as he jogged towards the entry way. He wore a frustrated look on his face before he turned to you, his face relaxing and a smile appearing. “Hey! How’re you doing?”

“P-Pretty good,” you sighed, glancing towards where his mother went. “I made brownies- your mom took them.”

“Nice, I’ll have to try and steal one before everyone else gets to them.” He pointed towards the stair case, looking between you and the stairs. “Want me to show you to your room?”

“Y-Yeah, I have a few things I should put away,” You told him. Without warning, he grabbed your hand and led you through the party and up the stairs, bringing you to a hallway with a bunch of doors.

“This is my room right here,” He told you, opening the door to a room much less decorate the one he had at his apartment, but still very much him. Marcel’s room was across the hall from his, and then a few doors down was the guest bedroom. He opened the door for you and you were greeted with a queen sized bed and plenty of space.

“Wow, this is-”

“Yeah, my parent’s aren’t subtle…” he sighed. “Everything is grand with them.”

“Man… I didn’t know you guys were rich,” You told him, turning to look at him.

“We’re not Historia rich, but… This is what happens when your parent’s found and own a fancy restaurant chain in town,” He explained. “They wanted Marcel and I to go to culinary school- Marcel’s Chemestry and I’m Engineering- neither of us are anything food related.”

“Are you good at cooking?” You asked curiously.

“Oh, fuck yeah I am,” He bragged. “Better than Marcel.”

You entered the guest bedroom and sat your bags down, Porco eyeing the extra bag you had with you, his eyes lighting up.

“Whaaaaat’s that?” he asked, slinking towards the bag. You slapped his hand away, shooting him a disapproving look. “Something for later.”

“Hmmm….” He stepped back. You turned to him, ready to join the party.

“You’ll see what it is later!” You defended. “Now lets go see the others- your mom is just gonna continue saying I’m your girlfriend the longer we’re up here alone.”

“God- everytime I mentioned you coming over, I made sure to emphasize that we’re just friends!” He groaned, partly out of frustration at his parents, partly cause he was mad that that was the case. He wanted to be more.

The two of you turned to join the party, returning to the first floor. He led you to where Pieck and Marcel were, and he froze before you reached him, turning to look at you.

“Fuck,” he groaned.

“What?” You asked, looking between him and Pieck and Marcel.

“We’re on baby sitting duty,” He explained. You quirked your head, looking back, and that’s when you spotted them. A group of kids. Two people walked up to Pieck and Marcel, talking with them- One was Reiner, and the other was a boy you had yet to meet.

“Why are we on baby sitting duty?” You asked him quietly.

“Cause the parent’s always just dump them,” He told you. He glanced down at you. “And those kids will run amuck and go through stuff when left alone- my stuff.”

“Understood!” You gave him a small salute before you joined the others. Marcel and Pieck wore similarly distressed faces looking at the kids that had been dropped off.

“Falco’s a good kid- he tries to keep the others in line!” The new guy defended, but Reiner sighed.

“Gabi’s too charismatic,” Reiner sighed. “Whatever reason Falco tries to speak, Gabi manages to rile up the others.”

“I keep saying we should get like a baby jail or something,” Porco announced as the two of you reached the others. “Toss em in, and let them tire themselves out.”

“They’re 12??” Marcel asked, looking at his brother. Porco shrugged.

“They’re still children- it counts,” he defended. You looked at the kids, a devious look on of the girl’s faces.

“Is that one Gabi?” You asked. Reiner looked over his shoulder, spotting the girl you were looking at.

“Yeah… That’s my baby cousin,” He explained. “I got drug along cause her parent’s do business with the Galliards and they know that I know them so, here I am- here she is.”

“She’s the ring leader,” Pieck sighed.

“My brother Falco’s the blond one,” The other guy revealed. “I-I’m Colt, by the way. I don’t think we’ve met before.”

“(Y/N),” You greet. “I’m their friend from college.”

“Colt’s a senior in high school,” Porco explained to you. “He’ll be at Paradis next year.”

You shot him a smile before glancing around Reiner again, only this time, there were no kids.

“Uh oh,” You said, your voice stiff. Porco followed your line of sight before swearing under his breath.

“Alright, everyone team up and fan out,” Marcel announced. “They couldn’t have gone far. Pieck and I will go check the upstairs; Reiner, you’ll be with Colt, go check the dining room and bottom floor in general; (Y/N), Porco- bundle up and check outside- I wouldn’t put it past the realm of possibility that they’re trying to light the fire pit or something.”

“Looks like we got the short end of the stick,” Porco grumbled beneath his breath. “I have some heavy coats in my room, give me a second.” He gave you a pat on the shoulder before heading out. Pieck waved goodbye to you as she and Marcel left, Reiner doing the same as he and Colt also left, leaving you alone.

Porco returned moment’s later, coats in hand.

“Might’ve lied to you a little,” He revealed. He you a sweatshirt and his signature bomber jacket. “I have a me sized jacket, but I figured if I bundled you up a bunch, you’d be even warmer than me.”

“Let’s find out,” You laughed. You pulled on the sweatshirt, cautious as to not mess up your hair, before pulling on the bomber jacket. Porco chewed the inside of his mouth, fighting down the blush that threatened to appear on his face. The sight of you in his clothes… in HIS signature jacket.

When you looked up, he pretended to not have been staring, averting his gaze towards the door outside.

“Ready to go?” He asked, looking back at you.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” You told him, shooting him a smile as you readied yourself for the outdoors. He lead you outside, the cold winter air hitting you, causing you to shiver, but where you were covered by his clothes, you were decently warm.

Porco, however, underestimated the thickness of the jacket he grabbed, but fought down the urge to shiver.

He pulled out some flash lights and handed one to you, clicking his own on.

“Those brats are sneaky… Well, except for Udo and Falco.” He scanned over the backyard with his flashlight for a moment. “Udo is a little clumsy and Falco is… Falco.”

“What’s that mean?” You asked curiously.

“Sweet kid, well meaning-” He paused for a moment. “A little naive and a little gullible. If Gabi told him, ‘Hey, wait here and act natural’ he’d do it, not realizing that she’d broken something and was abandoning him to take the fall- of course, poor thing has a crush on Gabi, so he’d do it anyways.”

“Does Gabi know he has a crush on her?” You asked curiously. He shook his head.

“Nope. She’s absolutely oblivious. One time, he even confessed to her and it went right over her head.”

“That’s rough… Poor kid,” You sighed. Porco clenched his jaw.

“Yeah. Poor kid.”

“I feel bad for leaving them to do their own thing,” Pieck sighed as Marcel poured her a glass of wine.

“Listen,” he sighed, setting the bottle down and joining her on the floor. “We’re old enough to have escaped baby sitting duty. All we gotta do is sit here… and guard this hallway. Make sure they don’t go into any of the bedrooms.”

“... Why’d you send Porco and (Y/N) outside,” Pieck asked slowly, leaning up against him.

“Because it’s cold… and maybe they’ll huddle up for warmth,” He sighed, looking down at her. “I’m trying to help my brother out a little. Stir up the romance…”

“He’s waiting for any sign that she might like him back,” Pieck sighed. “He’s scared of her rejecting him and making things awkward.”

“That’s new. Before, he’d just ask a girl out, they’d maybe go on a few dates- it wouldn’t really go anywhere, and that’d be the cycle- but he’s treading so carefully around (Y/N). I’m impressed. He’s usually cocky and confident, but she’s making him shy about it.”

“She’s not what he usually goes for either,” Pieck noted. “Not what I would’ve described as his type.”

“Very true… She’s had a grip on him since day one, though. Ever since he got the shit beat out of him for her.”

“Operation make (Y/N) fall for Porco?” Pieck suggested, holding out her hand. He took it.

“Operation make (Y/N) fall for Porco.”

Porco was nearly shivering out of his boots. You glanced over at him, and you smiled slowly, fighing back laughter. You scooched closer to him, grabbing his arm.

“Cold?” You asked, laughing. He forced himself to smile, acting as if nothing was wrong.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” He said stiffly. You scooched in closer, pressing yourself against his side.

“Does this help any??”

“Maybe a little,” He sighed, looking down at you. “But its cold as shit out here, so if we don’t find those kids within the next few minutes, I’m making the executive decision to go inside and warm up with some hot chocolate.”

“Oooooh, that sounds really good!” You agreed.

Porco looked away from you, determined to shove down his feelings for you. He was dying inside with how you were holding onto his arm- how could someone so shy around everyone else be so bold with him- how could you make him the shy one???

But the way you talked with him… They way you looked at him… It was friendship- a close one, for sure. A friendship that had started so abruptly and grew so quickly, two puzzle pieces that fit perfectly together, but at least for now… That’s all that was there for you… And he sure as hell wasn’t going to lose that.

You froze, tugging him to a stop. He looked back at you, concern in his brow as he ulled from his thoughts.

“What is it?” he asked, watching as youscanned your surroundings closely.

“We’re being watched,” you said quietly. “There’s at least two of them out here.”

“How do you know???”

“I heard them briefly. Another set of footsteps in addition to ours.”

“The distraction, most likely,” Porco realized, pulling out his phone. He sent a simple message to his brother: (Y/N) has discovered 2 of them. Distraction. 2 more on the move, most likely indoors.”

You tugged on Porco’s arm, nodding in the direction of some trees, a tuft of blond hair sticking out.

Porco looked down at you, the two of you silently communicating on your plan of action. He motioned one way and gestured for you to go the other. You gave him a nod and let go of his arm, his warmth leaving you. You quietly tiptoed through the snow towards the tree, Porco sneaking over to a hiding place should the kids make a break for it.

You rounded the tree quietly, the kids backs towards you- the ones you’d learned were Udo and Falco. You bit back a smile.

“What do you boys think you’re doing?” You asked, fighting back laughter as teh boys screamed. Udo accidentally pushed Falco down in his panic and made a run for it, only to be intercepted by Porco who grabbed the kid and threw him over his shoulder. You bent down and helped the poor kid up, brushing the snow off of him.

“Sorry about that!” you apologized. The poor thing was shivering out of his boots, and it was technically your fault he was. You shrugged off Porco’s bomber jacket and wrapped it around the kid, bundling him up. “What are you kids up to?”

“G-G-Gabi t-t-told us that the scary one would t-try to keep us from having fun,” He admitted, too cold and frightened to even care about lying. Porco approached (frowning that you’d given the kid his jacket, disappointed it was no longer on you).

“Is Porco the scary one?” You asked, glancing up at Porco. Falco nodded, leaving Porco offended, yet impressed.

“I’m cold as shit, lets bring these two inside,” He declared. You wrapped an arm around Falco’s shoulders and held the shivering kid close to you.

“I want that jacket back, kid,” Porco told him, Falco nodding quickly as the two of you led the boys inside. Porco brought your group to the kitchen. “There’s a lot of food here, eat to your hearts content,” He told the boys, setting Udo on the ground finally. You encouraged Falco forward and the two of them quietly began to browse the food.

“If I catch you little shits trying anything else, I will tell your parents- and I’m really not one to rat some kids out, but I will if I must- you kids are on this ice,” He warned them. The boys nodded, almost cowering away from Porco. You giggled and leaned up so you could whisper in Porco’s good ear.

“They’re scared of you,” You laughed.

“They should be,” He grumbled under his breath. He motioned for you to follow him and the two of you made your way upstairs where Marcel and Pieck were, only, they weren’t alone.

“REINER, IF YOU DON’T PUT ME DOWN!” You heard a girl cry out.

“Your parents already know you got a nose for trouble,” you heard Reiner sigh. You and Porco arrived at the top of the stairs and further down the hallway was Reiner holding his cousin upside down as she writhed.

Pieck had hold of the other girl, her arms gently wrapped around her, but the poor kid looked terrified, as if Pieck had a knife to her back.

“Where were they?” Porco asked.

“Trying to break into the game room,” Marcel sighed, rubbing his forehead. His cheeks were flushed red, and you could tell he wasn’t exactly sober at the moment.

“The boys are downstairs,” You explained. “Apparently they’re afraid of Porco?”

“They just haven’t met me in a context that isn’t me hunting them down so they don’t mess with my stuff,” he explained.

“They were outside? Bet Falco was freezing his ass off,” Colt sighed.

“He has my jacket, don’t worry,” Porco grumbled, still disappointed by the sight of you taking it off to give to a kid. “If he steals it though, I will break into your house and steal it back- its my signature bomber.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he gives it back,” Colt assured him. Everyone turned their gaze towards the kids.

“.... So… What do we do with them?”

“Is this….. Legal?” You asked, staring at them. Porco proudly put his bomber back on as he looked over at the kids.

“It’s as good as it’s gonna get- besides, its the only way we’re keeping her contained,” He shrugged.

“Trust me,” Reiner groaned as he finished tying up his cousin. “If we don’t do this, she will reign terror.”

The other kids sipped happily on juice boxes and ate snacks while Gabi was tied up in the corner, struggling against Reiner.

“I’m telling Aunt Karina about this!” She cried. He flicked her forehead.

“And I’ll tell your mom and dad that you were trying to cause trouble in the Galliard’s home,” He warned, causing her to shut her mouth. “That’s what I thought…”

Your group plopped down on a couch and sighed, finally able to relax. You pulled out your phone and held it close to your face as you began to scroll through tiktok, but Porco nudged you, and you turned your body so that he could watch with you.

Marcel leaned against Pieck, her fingers running through his hair, as he was too tipsy to really want to do anything.

Reiner and Colt simply talked about the next big football game and what was gonna go on and who was playing against who.

Gabi watched in disbelief as everyone was content doing their own thing, sitting, relaxing and not going wild.

“.... Wow, you old people SUCK!” She yelled out. Porco leaned his head back and shot her a look, causing her to avert her gaze, suddenly minding her own busines.

“.... I guess I am the scary one,” He mumbled to himself, causing you to laugh. You scrolled to the next video to watch a video of a cat licking a graham cracker.

“Huh, almost forgot its monday,” You laughed to yourself.

“I don’t get it,” Porco said scrunching his face.

“It’s monday,” Pieck chimed in.

“Which means Gandalf gets to lick a graham cracker,” Marcel added.

“Why does a cat get to lick a graham cracker, it makes no sense!” Porco cried.

“It’s her favorite activity,” You shrugged, causing Porco’s face to twist in confusion.

“The cat’s a girl and her name is Gandalf???”

“Yeah?”

“I’m tired of this- go on to the next video.”

The next video was a reddit story of how this guy messed up by doing the deed with his girlfriend to apparently a horrendous song for 2 years straight.

“Can’t be that bad,” Porco shrugged. “Play it.”

Looking up the song was a mistake. Everyone groaned and you immediately ended the song.

“Poor girl,” Pieck sighed.

“I’d rather go completely deaf than listen to that song again,” Porco admitted.

“..... How….?” Reiner thought aloud. Everyone turned to him. “How was he doing it that she was able to recognize it without the song even playing?”

“Had to have been to the rhythm and not the beat,” Colt reasoned. “Its too recognizeable of a rhythm for it not to be that.”

“Next,” Porco demanded….

And so the cycle continued.

The next day, your holiday festivities continued, only without the extra people. Now, it was just you, Pieck, and the Galliards… and Mario Kart.

Porco and Marcel were neck in neck, battling it out for who’d get first place- oblivious to a certain item that you had just obtained. You launched the blue shell, both of them beginning to panic. It hit them both, and you zoomed right past them and to the finish line, the little 1st place screen popping up for you.

“Haha!” You cheered, dropping your controller. Pieck grabbed you and gave you a squeeze.

“Congrats on beating the boys!” She congratulated.

“She used a blue shell!” Porco cried as he managed to finally cross the line.

“It was a low blow!” Marcel added.

“I’m just using what the Mariokart gods gave me,” You sighed.

Mrs. Galliard came into the room with a tray full of mugs.

“You kids having fun?” She asked, a chuckle in her voice. She sat the tray down on the coffee table and the boys swarmed it, grabbing themselves a mug. “Figured you guys would want some hot cocoa.”

“Thanks, mom!” Marcel cried as Porco guzzled his down. You and Pieck reached over and grabbed yours, thanking her for bringing you some. Mrs. Galliard’s eyes lit up as she remember. She placed a hand on your shoulder gently.

“Oh! (Y/N)! Your brownies were a win last night! Everyone loved them!” She informed you, a smile on her face.

“I know I did,” Porco added as he set his now empty mug down. “Almost didn’t get one because of those dang kids…”

“I heard about your babysitting adventures last night- hope those kids didn’t give you too much trouble, I know they find it whenever they meet up,” She sighed.

“We had it handled,” Pieck smiled. “Once you take out Gabi, the other’s fall in line.”

“That’s good to hear- well I’ll let you kids get back to your games. Presents will be later!” Mrs. Galliard gave your group a small wave before leaving the room.

“Am I finally going to see what’s in the bag today?” Porco asked you, turning to look at you. You took a long sip of your absolutely delicious hot chocolate, watching him out of the corner of your eye.

“Maybe…. Maybe not,” You said cooly, setting the mug down.

“You brought something secret?” Pieck asked you.

“Maaaaaaaaaybe,” You chuckled. She knew what you had got the boys for the holidays.

“Hmmm, so mysterious,” Marcel hummed.

“You’ll all find out in due time.”

Porco stood up and turned to face the whole room.

“How about this, (Y/N). If I win the next game of MarioKart,” Porco declared. “You have to show us the stuff in the bag.”

“And if I win?”

“....”

“Oh come on- I deserve something if I win!” You cried, leaning forward to look at him closer.

The two of you locked eyes, the temptation to say ‘I’ll take you on a date’ was too strong.

He stared at you long and hard, trying to determine what it was that he could do- what he could give you…. And then he remembered the previous night.

“.... I’ll give you my bomber jacket,” He told you, everyone gasping.

“You don’t mean THE bomber jacket, do you, Pock?” Pieck asked, sitting up straight.

“I do.”

“It’s that high stakes to you???” Marcel gasped, looking over at Pieck.

“I’m determined,” Porco revealed (and he just wanted more of an excuse to see you in his jacket if he lost).

“.... I accept,” You stood up and went over to him, extending your hand. “It is a very comfy jacket that I think you’ll regret betting.”

“Just shows how serious I am about that bag,” He told you, taking your hand and giving it a squeeze. The two of you watched each other closely before storming back to your controllers to restart the game with just the two of you.

You proudly donned your new jacket, the jacket enveloping you nicely- Porco sat ‘defeated’ watching you celebrate your win.

“Be real,” Marcel said quietly next to him. “Did you throw that?”

“Who’s to say,” Porco replied, glancing back at his brother. “I feel like I won.”

“Just ask her out,” Marcel told him, “It’s clear you really like her do you know how many times mom and dad have asked me if you were dating? Even after I told them you weren’t and you were just friends?”

Porco looked back at you as you spoke with Pieck in the next room.

“... I don’t want to scare her off,” Porco revealed, something he’d never do if he wasn’t talking to his brother. “I’m just a friend to her… and I don’t want to lose that. Don’t want to make things awkward.”

“I’ve never seen you act like this around a girl.”

“Well… She’s different, okay?” Porco shot his brother a look which meant ‘drop it’. Marcel gave him a nod and a pat on the back.

“Just want you to be happy,” he sighed, standing up and heading for the kitchen to join you and Pieck.

Porco sat still for a second, putting up his facade before joining you again.

You sat surprised at the gifts around you, not expecting to have received any. Even though they were small, they meant a lot to you. Pieck had gotten you a non-horror movie to watch- Marcel had gotten you fancy pepper spray. Porco’s gift had you fighting back a smile: a bomber jacket that matched his.

You looked over at him, tugging at the one you had claimed as your prize earlier.

“I’m assuming you want this one back?” You asked, chuckling to yourself.

“You won it fair ‘n square,” He sighed dramatically. “Only if you feel so gracious.”

“Hmmm, I think I’ll hold onto it a little while longer….” You teased.

Mr. and Mrs. Galliard looked back and forth from you and Porco, then back to each other. Were you aware that you were flirting?

You distributed your gifts to Pieck and Marcel- as punishment for being impatient, Porco would have to wait on his.

Pieck got an arrangement of face masks and self care items that you’d collected, and Marcel got a gift card to what just so happened to be Pieck’s favorite restaurant for date nights (your ̶r̶o̶o̶m̶m̶a̶t̶e̶ informant had so graciously told you the best option).

After many egg nogs, hot chocolates, and deserts of many kinds, you were exhausted, on the verge of a food coma.

Porco helped grab your gifts and carry them up to the guest room. You brought them in, seting them on the bed before grabbing the item Porco had been waiting for all night.

“Alright, your punishment has come to an end!” You declared, bringing him the wrapped gift, his eyes lighting up as if he was a kid again.

“Ohh, yeah! You’ve been killing me with this thing!” He cheered. He tore the wrapping paper off of the box to reveal a remote control car that looked identical to his, a giant smile on your face as you watched his reaction.

“I found that at the store one day- I thought it was perfect. I know how much you love your car.”

“I’m going to annoy the shit out of Marcel with this…” He slowly spoke, still in awe of what he was seeing. His awe was interrupted by you shrugging off his bomber jacket. “W-Woah, what are you doing?”

“I’m giving this back to you.”

“Why?”

“Because this is your signature bomber,” You say, handing it to him. “I’m not gonna take your signature jacket away from you- I only ask that whenever I want it, no matter the circumstances, I get to wear it… Besides, some guy I know just gave me a bomber jacket of my own to wear, so I don’t really ended to keep yours.”

Porco accepted it back, staring you down. You quirked your head, confused as to why he was staring you down so hard. You weren’t blushing… He knew you well enough that he knew that if you knew what you were doing, you’d be blushing like crazy… but you weren’t. This was just banter to you: nothing more, nothing less.

He finally smiled at you, as if he hadn’t just been examining you so closely.

“Well, whoever got you that jacket has got to be one of the coolest guys around- waaaay cooler than Reiner, Eren, or any of those other sports assholes around school,” He sighed, playing it cool. You laughed at his words, whatever awkwardness that had arisen during the moment quickly broken.

“Welp- I think I’m going to hit the hay,” you sighed, leaning on the doorway. “All your mom and dad’s cooking has made me tired- I’m literal seconds away from a food coma.”

“Well then,” He took a step back, giving you some room. “I’ll let you hit the hay. Thanks for the car- I love it by the way.”

“I’m glad,” you smiled. You were going to kill him. “Goodnight, Pock!”

“Oh, don’t you start on that too-” You laughed as you shut the door. You heard a muffled ‘Goodnight!’ through the door. You shook your head, giggling like a little girl as you made your way to the bed.

You grabbed your new jacket and tried it on, the jacket slipping perfectly over your shoulders and fitting you just right. You smiled to yourself, hugging the jacket close to you.

Porco clicked his door shut, his head thudding against it as he took a deep breath, collecting himself.

He looked down at his bomber for a moment before bringing it up to his face and smelling it- even though you’d only worn it for the day, it smelled of you. He slowly dropped it and brought it to his chest, holding it there.

“... She’s going to kill me…”

You wrapped up Porco’s present nicely, tucking it into your bag. Once again, you were heading out to another birthday, but instead of it being at a nice restaurant, it was at Eren’s hopefully not fratted up house. You were dressed more casually and comfortably, a sweatshirt with Porco’s soccer number on it (you thought you’d surprise him with it).

You grabbed your keys and made your way down to your car, hopping it in and starting it. Pieck asked if you could get there early and help set up, and when Porco offered to drive you, she berated him since he couldn’t arrive early to his own party. You offered to pick her up from her place, to which she agreed. Porco was pouty about it for some reason, but Pieck told him he’d live.

You propped your phone up and plugged in the address, setting out.

When you made it to her apartment, you texted her that you were outside, and she quickly made her way down, joining you in your car.

“Thanks for picking me up,” She thanked.

“No problem!” You assured her. You handed Pieck your phone, a shy look on your face. “I never got Eren’s address. Do you know it?”

“Oh! Yeah, I got you covered, don’t worry,” She told you. She typed it in and hit go, setting it on the prop for you. You backed out and began driving, Pieck sitting in silence for a few moments before speaking again. “So… I have a question for you, if you don’t mind me asking one.”

“Ask me anything!” You said, maybe slightly too eagerly. She chuckled before continuing.

“I was wondering… My lease is about to end for my apartment. I could renew it and stay, but I was wondering if you’d be interested in a roommate,” She told you. “Porco told me that you had two bedroom in your apartment and that you were trying your best to save money. Having a roommate would split the rent.”

The proposal surprised you. You hadn’t thought about roommates and Pieck was someone you knew… Someone who was nice and you were comfortable with.

“A-Are you sure you’d want to be in an apartment like mine? It’s not as nice as something like Porco and Marcel’s place, and-”

“I’m sure my current place is of equal scope to yours,” She told you. “You don’t have to say yes if you don’t want to. I’m perfectly fine still living where I am, I was just-”

“I’d be happy to have you as my roommate!” you blurted out. “You’re right… I have a spare room I’m not even using, and I do need to save money! Really! I’d be glad to have you.”

A smile slowly grew on Pieck’s face.

“Great! When would you want me to move in?”

“Whenever you want to,” You told her. “I’ll take you in whenever!”

“I’ll tell the boys later that I’ll be your roommate- and then I’ll get them to do the manual labor for us,” She told you with a wink. “Porco is always eager to show off how strong he is.’

“He won’t even let me carry in my own groceries,” You grumbled jokingly. The two of you laughed.

You and Pieck scrambled around Eren’s house, decorating it for the party. You checked over the cake and made sure it was spelled correctly (and made sure that Eren didn’t put a pig on it or taste test it). Mikasa assured you she guarded the cake well.

Mid you and Armin hanging up some streamers, a knock came from the door. Mikasa went for it, ready for it to be Reiner, Jean, or one of the others, but she frowned when she was met with a beard in glasses.

“I was told a party was being thrown,” The man said, “Dear father asked if I could come and make sure that the house doesn’t get absolutely trashed.”

Mikasa stared the man down before calling out for Eren over her shoulder.

“Eren, your brother’s here to babysit!” She called out, ditching the door. Watching her, you could tell that she didn’t quite like him- but he took that as an invitation to come inside.

You looked over to Pieck, unsure of who the man was. She motioned you over so she could speak quietly.

“That’s Zeke Jeager, Eren’s older half brother. He was a few grades above Marcel, Porco and I at our school.,” She explained to you. Peering over you shoulder to look at the party’s intruder, you caught him already looking at you, a curious look on his face- and he didn’t shy away at being caught staring.

“Do I know you?” He asked you. You turned around fully, anxiety flooding you.

“I-I don’t think so,” You answered quickly. “I’m from out of town- I-I-I just s-started at Paradis this semester.”

“Really?” He walked up to you and leaned on the counter. You glanced over at Pieck, but she seemed just as confused as you were. “What’s your major? How’d you come across this annoying group of kids?”

“I-I-I’m a creative writing major- art minor,” You explained. “I met everyone through Porco. He invited me along and introduced me to the group since I had to friends….”

“Galliard?” Zeke scoffed. “I’m surprised he was nice to somebody.”

“She’s the only one,” Pieck piped in, “Besides me, of course, but that’s cause he’s known me for so long.” Pieck stood next to you, her arm going around you and giving you a squeeze. “(Y/N)’s special. She got on his good side almost immediately.”

Zeke eyed you up down, humming to himself.

“That’s rare.”

You weren’t sure what to make of Zeke’s interaction with you. You could intenseness of his gaze baring down on you, the way his eyes raked over you made you unsure. You’d never received this kind of attention before- nobody had ever stopped in the middle of what they were doing to stare you down and look you over- talk to you just because they saw you.

Did it make you happy…..? Or did you want to retreat and hide away?

Pieck’s grip tightened on you, her mouth open to say something, but Eren storming into the room to argue with his elder brother interrupted her. Just as they started to bicker, a knock came from the door and Pieck grabbed your hand and led you to it, letting in the first group of guests.

People slowly filed in, bringing the brothers’ argument to a halt. Your eyes lit up as Porco and Marcel came into view- Porco’s did as well as he spotted you, but looking past you, spotting Zeke… and he was staring at you.

“What is he doing here…?” He grumbled to Marcel, who sighed.

“No idea… I’ll ask Pieck about it if she knows.”

Porco went up to you dramatically draped an arm around your shoulders, making a show of interacting with you. Zeke scoffed and busied himself with something.

“So… Decided to show up to my party, eh?” He asked, nudging you.

“I suppose I decided I had enough time to participate in a party of sorts,” You sighed dramatically, acting as if you hadn’t arrived early just to help set up. You couldn’t help but laugh at yourself.

You pulled yourself away from him and spun around to look at the birthday boy head on.

“Hey! I did get you something. Want it now or later?” You asked, rocking back in forth in anticipation.

“Hmmm….” he pretended to think. He stroked a make-believe beard, looking everywhere but at you as you tried to look at his face to see what he was thinking. “Now!” he declared. “Gotta kick this thing off somehow.”

A wide grin appeared on your face as you ran for the coat closet where you’d stored your bag. You pulled out the wrapped present and brought it over to him, where he took it from you happily.

You watched as he unwrapped the present eagerly, biting back a smile. He unveiled the movie set, his eyes scanning it over with intrigue.

“I didn’t see it in your collection,” You told him, biting your lip. “It’s my favorite series, I thought you might be interested.”

“I haven’t seen any of these,” He admitted, an eager look on his face. He held up the movie set, waving it. “Movies at my place after this?”

“I can never turn down a movie night and you know that.”

“I was planning on it.”

Pieck came over and mentioned something about drinks to you, and you excused yourself to go help her, something about a ‘Galliard Bomb’ needing to be made.

Porco watched you go away, waiting a second to follow so he could help over see the making of his and Marcel’s signature drink. With your back turned to him, he took the opportunity to glare at Zeke, who was still watching you with intrigue.

Zeke’s eyes flicked over to Porco, making eye contact with him. Porco glanced over at you before looking back, sending him a warning to stay away. The moment you turned around, Porco dropped the glare and followed up behind you.

“Pieck, hold on, there’s not enough rum-” he declared, knowing well that she knew how much to put in.

Zeke looked down to his phone, having looked you up.

Porco was awfully protective of someone he wasn’t even dating.

Porco found a way to have you by his side through out the entire party. Whether it was just sitting down and chatting, blowing out candles and eating cake, playing beer pong, wii sports- whatever it was, he made sure you were with him.

He wasn’t subtle about it, either. Everyone noticed his insistence on having you near him- everyone but you. He was your safety person, the person you tended to stick with in group settings because you knew him best, and if it wasn’t him, it was either Pieck or Marcel, maybe even Mikasa if none of them were available. You were glad that you had your friend to stick with throughout the night, not knowing how everyone else was watching the two of you.

Zeke thought it was particularly amusing. He knew what Porco was doing- knew that he was being protective of you simply cause he caught Zeke watching you. Before, he thought you were maybe a little interesting, definitely something cute to look at, but with Porco guarding you so closely?

Now you were a challenge.

By now though, in the night, your cheeks had grown warm, and you found yourself leaning on Porco more. The alcohol in your system was finally taking its hold, and you became gigglier and more clingy as well.

Checking the time, Porco found this the perfect way to get you out of the party and away from Zeke.

“Hey, why don’t we get you home,” Porco suggested, looking you over. “You’re drunk and don’t need to be driving.”

“YOU SAID-!” you began, Porco shushing you due to you suddenly yelling. “You said we would have a movie night!”

“Alright, alright!” He defended himself, lifting his hands into the air in surrender. “We’ll have movie night! Hopefully you’ll sober up some by then…”

He looked around, searching for Marcel in the room.

“Alright, hey, I’m gonna tell Marcel and get your keys. Are they in the coat closet?”

“YYYYYYYYep!” You slurred. He stared you down, not quite sure what to do with you, but Reiner walked by and Porco snatched him.

“Listen, can you keep an eye on her for a second?” he asked the tall blond. “I’m gonna take her home, she’s shot.” He leaned in closer, nodding towards Zeke. “Keep him away from her- I don’t like how he’s been watching her.”

Reiner glanced in Zeke’s direction, seeing how he watched you.

“I see why you’ve been so clingy all night…” Reiner mumbled. Reiner and Porco weren’t on the same page on many things, but Zeke was one of them. Sure he came off as nice, but the niceness felt like a facade. Fake. Calculate.

Porco’s dislike of Zeke was much stronger than Reiner’s, but the man still gave him the ick.

“Yeah, I’ll make sure he doesn’t mess with her,” Reiner assured Porco. Porco mumbled a thank you and went to find Marcel, Reiner going over by your side and talking with you.

Porco discovered Marcel nd handed him the car keys, explaining to him what he was going to do. Marcel glanced over his shoulder, watching how you chatted with Reiner, not a shy bone in your body as you spoke with him. Marcel gave his brother a thumbs up and a nod, Porco patting him on teh shoulder before returning to you.

“Alright, come on,” Porco said, grabbing your arm. “Let’s get you away from alcohol.”

“BUT THE PARTY-!” You cried. Porco was quick to slap his hand over your mouth to hush you.

“You need water and sleep,” He told you, pulling you forward. “I’ve gotten my fill of party- where’re your car keys??”

“My baaag!” You said, pointing towards the coat closet. Porco waved at people as he helped you towards the closet, leaning you against a wall as he went to retrieve it. He slung your bag over his shoulder and grabbed you once mroe, supporting you against yourself as he led you out.

“Something tells me you’re gonna be too tired to watch the movie by the time we get to my place,” He chided you, looking down at you as he helped you to your car.

“No, I won’t!” You retorted as Porco reached your car. He unlocked it and helped you in, even bucking you into the passenger seat.

He cursed at himself for adding the extra alcohol to the drink purely for the sake of having the excuse to be by you- you were absolutely wasted. You had this dumb smile on your face, fueled by alcohol- you looked cute, but damn, was he going to force you to drink some water.

Porco carried you up the stairs, grumbling to himself.

You passed out during the drive back. He had scooped you out of your car and carried you bridal style up to his apartment, your head resting against his shoulder as he carried you.

He bypassed the couch in his apartment, heading towards his room. Nudging open the door with his foot, he brought you to his bed, gently laying you down.

You let out a soft hum and adjusted yourself in your sleep.

Porco watched you closely, his heart aching as he brushed the hair from your face. You looked beautiful in your sleep.

He reluctantly averted his eyes as he took off your shoes, grabbed his blankets, and pulled them over you body, tucking you in.

“G’Night… (Y/N).....” He mumbled. He grabbed his clotehs and went to the bathroom, taking a hot shower before making his way to the couch.

He laid down, hoping to sleep, but all he could think of was you.

You woke up confused as to where you were. The scent was familiar and comforting, the bed you were in comfortable beyond belief. You sat up, finding yourself alone and in the clothes you wore the previous day still on you, untouched.

You didn’t realize you were holding your breath until you released it once you realized you were in Porco’s bedroom. At the end of his bed were clothes for you to switch into.

You slunk out of his room, his hoodie enveloping your body as you made your way to the apartment’s livingroom. Peering around the corner, you saw Porco spread on the couch, an arm behind his head, a leg dangling off the couch. You smiled to yourself as you made for the kitchen, grabbing the ingredients for pancakes.

The smell of food met Porco’s nose, causing him to stir. Quietly sitting up , he saw you at the stove, tending to whatever you were making and he got up, slowly making his way to you.

He reached out to place his hand on your waist, to press his backa against yours and look over your shoulder- but he stopped himself. He opted for leaning against the counter and watching you.

“Smells good,” He complimented. You nearly leapt from your skin as you spun around to look at him.

“JEEZ, PORCO!” You cried. “Give a girl a warning next time….”

“Sorry about that. How’d you sleep?”

“Pretty good….” you paused for a second, thinking over your words. “... Thank you… For taking care of me. Your bed’s quite comfy.”

“No problem- It was fun watching you be drunk. You’re quite talkative when you are,” He explaiend to you. “All that shyness- gone as if it never existed.”

“Not true!” You argued, but he shook his head.

“Very true,” He laughed. “You talked with the others as if they were me.”

You hummed to yourself, turning back to the pancakes, flipping them. He moved in closer, watching you cook.

“Those look good.”

“Thank you- I’m trying my best.”

Porco turned and got plates out, setting them by you.

“Want coffee?”

“Yes, please.”

“Got you covered.”

The two of you worked on getting breakfast set up, slowly getting everything together.

“Want to start the movie while we eat breakfast?” Porco asked, turning to you.

“You still want to start?” You asked, trying to hide your excitement. He chuckled to himself as he led you into the living room.

“Of course I do!” He insisted as the two of you sat down. “My birthday present frm my best friend? ‘Course I want to watch.”

“Best…. Friend?” You asked slowly. “You’re joking-”

“Am not,” He agrued, looking over at you. “Of everyone I know that isn’t my brother or Pieck, you’re the one I like the best. Nothing about you gets on my nerves- and for someone like me, that’s rare,” he admitted. “So….. Best friend.”

A smile grew on your face.

“Best friend. I like the sound of it.”

He returned your smile.

You popped up and set your plate down, running over to the dvd player and grabbing the box set of movies.

“Ready to get your socks rocked off?” You asked as you inserted the frist movie into the player.

“Hell yeah I am.”

“Then get ready for my favorite movie series!!!” you cheered, rushing back to your couch, nearly crashing into it as your returned to your spot.

“Excited much?” He laughed.

“Never can be too excited for these movies!”

“Then lets get started.”

“No way!” Porco cried, sitting up in his seat. You turned to look at him, biting back a smile at his astonished face as he turned to look at you. “There’s no way that’s how it ends!!!”

“Rumor’s have it a prequel is coming out eventually,” You told him, a smug smile on your face. “But who knows… I read fanfiction to fill the hole this series has left in my heart.”

“You are cruel!” Before you could retort, Porco pounced on you, gripping you by the arms and shaking you comedically. “Why would you do this to me!”

“I knew you’d like it!” You laughed, placing your hands on his shoulders to urge him to stop. He went limp and fell against you, his head against your shoulder, hididng his face.

“Why would you do this to me…” he asked once more, voice filled with defeat. Your face grew hot with how close you’d become- you’d never interacted with someone like this.

He let out a groan and fell away from you, back flopping against the couch.

“You alright?” Marcel asked entering the room. “Finished your movies?”

“Unfortunately,” Porco groaned, rolling off the couch, thudding against the floor. He crawled over to the dvd player and ejected the movie, sadly placing the movie away before sifting through his other movies, attempting to find one you hadn’t yet seen.

Marcel looked over at you and your heated face, as you looked everywhere but him or his brother. He took a deep breath as he looked back over to Porco, who was oblivious to your current state.

“Pieck told me that she’s gonna move in with you,” Marcel spoke, grabbing your attention. Your head snapped towards Marcel, eyes wide as if you’d been startled awake. Porco turned around, interested.

“Y-Yeah,” You confirmed. “She asked me about it on our way to the party last night.”

“And you didn’t tell me?” Porco asked you in disbelief. You rolled your head to look at him.

“I was too busy getting your party started- I forgot,” You informed him.

“And then you got too drunk to tell me later,” He said, jokingly reminding you of your intoxicated state the night before.

“And then I got too excited by the movies to remember to tell you,” you sighed. “Pieck is gonna move in whenever she can.”

“So even more of an excuse for me to come over and visit your place.” Porco wore a mysterious smile on his face. “Have movies and hang out sessions over there instead of coming all the way over here.”

“Your place is nicer than man,” You argued.

“D’you think I care?” He laughed. “As long as theres popcorn and drinks, I’m fine wherever.”

“He really is, especially if you get him drunk,” Marcel jabbed. “You think he could care less now? He’ll settle for anything drunk.”

“That sounds wrong!” Porco grumbled at his brother.

“Wrong how?”

“You know how.”

“I guess I know how,” Marcel shrugged at you, causing you to laugh.

“What’s going on in here,” Pieck sighed as she joined the party.

“The brothers are bickering,” You told her, causing her to sigh again.

“A common occurence,” She turned to Marcel. “You said you were just gonna grab drinks and come back- I was wondering where you went.”

“Porco was in crisis,” he explained to her. “They finished those movies and apparently he’s been devestated.”

“If you had joined us, you’d know why,” Porco argued, but Pieck shook her head.

“Someone’s gotta keep your brother company while you watch your horror movies,” She sighed. “Maybe (Y/N) and I will watch them in our apartment together.”

“Well you tell me when cause I want to be there!” Porco placed a movie into the player and returned to the couch- back to his original spot at the opposite end before he had suddenly invaded your space. “I’m down to rewatch those whenever.”

“That good, huh?”

“Yeah. That good.”

Pieck shot you a sleepy smile.

“I’ll have to move in soon then.”

Pieck braided your hair as Porco prattled on about his next soccer game. Marcel stood in the kitchen, making dinner before your movie night properly began. You felt Pieck tie off the end of your hair before squeezing your shoulders.

“All done!” She said, poking her head around to see your face. You shot her a smile, thanking her, before climbing back onto the couch between her and Porco.

“That’s a new look for you,” Porco noted, looking you over.

“I’m not great at braiding my own hair,” You sighed. “I’m much better at braiding other people’s, so that’s why I don’t wear it like this much.”

“Much easier to do when you can see what you’re doing,” Pieck added, straightening one of the braids. Porco shrugged, never even having attempted braiding hair before.

“What movie are we thinking?” He asked, grabbing the remote and beginning to browse the various streaming services.

“Not horror!” Marcel called out, causing you to stifle a giggle.

“Whatever you say, man,” Porco sighed, begrudgingly skipping over the horror section.

Your phone began to ring and you pulled it out of your pocket, only to see that your mother was facetiming you.

“A-Ah, sorry about this, I’ll go to another-”

“It’s okay, we’ll be quiet,” Pieck assured you. “Not like we’re doing anything at the moment.”

“O-Oh, okay!” You nodded, looking back at your phone. Porco watched intently as you hit the green button, answering the call.

A woman who looked remarkably like you appeared on your screen, a warm smile on her face.

“Ah! There you are (Y/N)! It’s been a minute since I’ve been able to see your face!!” Your mother greeted.

“Sorry, Mom,” You apologized. “I’ve been busy- I’m currently over at my friend’s place. We’re getting ready to watch a movie. How’ve you been?”

Porco watched your mannerisms, watching how you tapped your hand against your leg.

“Your father and I have been good- he’s currently out on a boy’s night, so I thought I’d call my baby girl. You said you’re over at your friends house? I won’t keep you long.”

“Don’t worry, Mrs. (L/N)!” Pieck said, poking her face into frame. “We’re trying to pick a movie, so- It’s gonna be a minute. You have time.”

“Oh! Who’s that?!” Your mom asked. Your face grew red, but Pieck answered for you.

“I’m Pieck! We met through my boyfriend’s brother,” She explained, pointing into the kitchen. You lifted the phone over Porco and pointing it into the kitchen, Marcel (who grew a little pink as he’d been wearing a ‘Kiss the Chef’ apron), waved at the camera.

“Oh! (Y/N)! Is that boy you told me about there?!” The excitement in your mom’s voice and her phrasing caused your face to grow hot as you brought your phone back down.

“Yes, my friend, Porco,” you said, emphasizing friend (much to Porco’s dismay). He poked his head into frame, allowing your mom to see him.

“Without me, your daughter would have no friends,” He bluntly declared. Pieck reached over you and smacked his head.

“Not true!” Pieck argued.

“Kinda true…” You sighed.

“Oh! (Y/N) called me awhile back just GUSHING over how she met someone new and how she finally had a friend and-”

“Mom!!!” You cried, causing Porco to laugh.

“I took poor (Y/N) here under my wing and introduced her to my friend group,” Porco announced dramatically, draping his arm around your shoulders and giving you a squeeze. “Under my tutelage, she has begun to thrive…”

“He’s talking nonsense,” Pieck and Marcel called out, causing you to giggle. Porco pouted, removing his arm from you (leaving you colder).

“I’m just happy she has friends!” Your mother exclaimed. “I was so worried about her being on her own so far away from home! She’s never been the most sociable, and she’s just so shy, so I was worried about her! Especially with her living on her own, and-”

“She’s in good hands, Ms. (L/N),” Porco chimed in. He grabbed your hand and brought it away from your knee, where you were nervously scratching and picking at your skin. “I drive her home from class every thursday, and our friend group hangs out frequently, so she’s not alone often.” He gave your hand a gentle squeeze.

“She fits in perfectly with the group!” Pieck added. “She’s super fun to hang out with!”

“Oh! That makes me feel so much better!” Your mother cheered. “I always worry about my little baby bunny!”

“Moooooommmm….” you groaned, causing her to giggle.

“Well, I let you go, dear! Have fun watching your movie- and no alcohol!”

“Love you…”

“Love you too, bunny!”

You clicked off the call, dropped your phone and pulled a blanket over your head, wanting to die.

“..... Bunny?” Porco asked after a moment, causing you to groan.

“I keep telling my mom to stop calling me that,” You cried, pulling the blanket off your head. “I was a shy kid, and my mom said I always reminded her of a skittish bunny- so bunny became my nickname.”

Porco pulled the blacket off your knee and examined it, your skin red and irritated there.

“Does… your mom stress you out?” He asked quietly. You sighed, looking defeated.

“It’s always ‘Poor, shy little (Y/N)... What will (Y/N) do without me… Can’t do anything on her own….’ it’s infantilizing… Part of the reason I really wanted to go to this school was cause I wanted to feel like an adult- go off on my own and not have my mom and dad doting on me all the time,” you revealed, sinking further into the couch.

Porco sank down next to you so he could be eye level.

“I kinda understand what you’re talking about,” he mumbled to you quietly so just you would hear. “I’m the younger sibling, so… I’m the one my parents worry about. Growing up, I couldn’t go anywhere as a kid without Marcel going with me to keep an eye on me. Finally, I managed to get them to let me do my own thing, but it took awhile.”

You hummed, understanding what he meant.

Porco nudged you, making you glance over at him. He stared at you for a second before making a silly face, causing you to roll your eyes.

“Hate seeing you bummed out,” He told you. “Gonna make you laugh throughout the rest of the night.”

“Looking forward to it,” You sighed. He paused for a moment, thinking it over.

“Comedy. That’s our genre!” he announced, sitting up. You slowly sat up with him.

“What kind of comedy?” You asked.

“Good question….”

“Rom Com!” Pieck answered for him. Porco sighed and relinquished the remote to Pieck.

“You pick- you know those better.”

“On it!”

As Pieck began browsing, your phone dinged, and your gut fell, anticipating it the text to be from your mother, but upon lifting your phone, you found that it was Mikasa who texted you.

“Huh…” You hummed to yourself as you opened the message. Porco glanced over your shoulder and snooped as you read the message.

Mikasa: Hey, (Y/N). Armin’s birthday was coming up and we’re throwing him a party. Was wondering if you’d be interested in going. His birthday is on the 3rd.

“Did Mikasa ask you guys about this?” You asked, showing your phone to them.

“Oh! We’ve been discussing it in person,” Pieck explained to you. “We already knew the details. Glad to know she’s asking you about it.”

“O-Oh! What are the plans?” You asked.

“Armin’s more on the mild mannered side, so we usually just go out to eat,” she explained further. “We found a restaurant willing to accept a larger group and we’re planning on taking him there. Somewhat nicely dressed.”

“Ah, that’s good to know!” You thanked. You texted Mikasa back saying you were interested in going. “Do I need to bring anything or…?”

“We’re planning on kinda pranking Armin this year,” Porco told you. “We’re all getting him various hawaiian shirts. Dude loves the beach, so we’re gonna flood his wardrobe.”

“He doesn’t want anything else???”

“He specifically told us not to get him anything for his birthday,” Marcel chimed in. “So we decided to make a joke out of it.”

“Aaaaaand speaking of birthdays….” Porco began, an air of cockiness to his voice. Pieck and Marcel rolled their eyes.

“Oh boy…” They groaned. You looked up at him, a furrow to your brow.

“My birthday is on the 11th,” He informed you. “Be there or be square.”

“Okay, so what are you planning on doing for your birthday,” You asked him.

“Oh, we usually just invite everybody over, drink some booze, play some games and what not- course, Eren’s in an actual house this year, so he generously offered to host so that we don’t have to worry about noise complaints.”

“Eren has a house??” You asked, astonished that someone your age could own property.

“His dad’s a doctor- boy has doctor money,” Porco shrugged.

“Found our movie!” Pieck announced. Looking at the screen, she’d pulled up 10 Things I Hate About You.

Marcel proudly brought over his homecooked meal and set everyone’s plates down on the coffee table.

“And dinners ready just in time!”

Pieck dragged you through the store, her arm linked with yours as she brought you over to a rack of clothes.

“I don’t get it!” You cried. “Why do I need to buy new clothes??”

“Cause what you have isn’t doing you any justice!” Pieck retorted. She pulled up the picture you sent her. “This? Looks like you’re going to be teacher. You need something to make you look your age.”

You pouted as she started sorting through the clothes, your mind wandering to the upcoming birthdays. You knew Armin was getting the shirts, but….

“So…. Does Porco want anything for his birthday?” You asked Pieck, thinking about all the things in the store.

“Eh, he’s hard to shop for,” Pieck admitted, glancing over at you. “Clothes? He always wears the same stuff- he’s practically married to that bomber jacket of his. I usually go video games for him, but there’s nothing out at the moment that he’d want. I’m not sure what to suggest to you.”

Pieck’s eyes lit up and she grabbed a dress off the rack, a conflicted look appearing on your face. She frowned and immediately put it back.

“What do you normally wear, besides what I see you in?” She asked you.

“I dunno… I don’t want….” you eyed what she had pulled out. “That. A bit too showy for me. I don’t want to feel like I’m wearing a second layer of skin- I want to feel like I’m wearing clothes.”

Pieck thought for a moment before a light bulb went off in her head.

“Okay… I have an idea. If you trust me, why don’t you go and see if you can find something for Porco’s birthday. I’m going to need to find a few things, so I’ll need a moment,” She told you. You opened your mouth to protest, but she turned your around and pushed you forward. “Trust me, (Y/N). I have an idea.”

“Okay Okay! I’ll trust you…” You sighed, stepping away from her. You gave her a cautionary glance before you left her to go wander the store, making your way out of the clothes section and heading towards the entertainment section of the store.

You first made your way to the video game section, but Pieck was right. As you looked over the games, you saw some he already had and others that just didn’t scream Porco.

Looking at merchandise, you also felt like you were out of luck. Porco didn’t seem like a collectable kind of guy, so Pop figures or other things left you grumbling to yourself.

You slowly made your way to the movie section, wandering through. If there was one thing beyond coffee, car drives and class that you had with Porco, it was your movie nights… and your mutual love for horror movies.

You immediately made a beeline for the horror movies, the aisle filled with all the greatest horror movies of all time. Your eyes immediately fell upon your target: a box set of all of the movies in your favorite horror franchise: The Haunted Souls Anthology. It was a series of films of various stories of possessions and demonic activity- scary, but having entertaining stories as well.

When you had sorted through Porco’s collection, you hadn’t seen them, so this was your chance…..

Your phone buzzed and that was your que to make it back to the clothing section and back to Pieck.

She waved you down and as you approached, she presented the outfit she had put together for you. Your eyes lit up as you looked at it.

“Sooo, what do you think?” She asked, eyeing you hopefully. You looked up at her, a smile on your face.

“I think this is the one.”

Your phone went off and you saw Porco’s name pop up on your screen.

Porco😈: We’re here. Get your butt outside.

You quickly grabbed your phone and replied.

You: About to head down!

You took one last look at yourself in the mirror. Pieck had picked out a cute, overall dress and a button up shirt to wear underneath it. Paired with some patterned tights and ankle boots, you were ready to impress.

You grabbed your phone and bag and scurried out the door, ready to join them.

….

Porco thought he was going to die when he saw you.

Pieck and Marcel were sitting in the car, and since they were in Marcel’s car since it had more sitting room, Porco opted to stand outside of the car so that you’d find it easier.

This allowed him to see you in all your glory approaching the car, a smile on your face as you approached him. He pushed himself off the car and shot you a smile.

“You clean up nicely,” He complimented. You giggled.

“You can thank Pieck for this,” You told him as you finally made it to the car.

‘Pieck, you have my every thanks….’ he thought to himself.

“You’re dressed nicely as well,” You complimented back. Honestly, you were surprised that he managed to wear an outfit that didn’t have his signature bomber jacket. His hair was his usal slicked back, but he wore a casual button up with the sleeves rolled up and a pair of tight pants to go with it.

“Thanks, Marcel and Pieck made me dress up,” He sighed. “Something about wherever we’re going for Armin’s birthday.”

“I swear, if we’re going to Hooters-” you laughed.

“That’d be something!” He laughed. He led you round the car and opened the door so you could climb in. You slid all the way over so he could simply climb in behind you.

“We ready to rock and roll?” Marcel asked, to which Porco cringed.

“Never ever say that again,” He groaned. Pieck laughed.

“Please continue to say it,” She disagreed. Porco reached over and whacked Pieck, causing her to laugh.

“Don’t hit my girlfriend, Pock,” Marcel jokingly snapped at him.

“Juuuust drive!” Porco groaned. “I’m tired of being in these stuffy ass clothes.”

“I’ll be sure to drive extra slow,” Marcel retorted, putting the car into gear. Porco rolled his eyes and nudged you, the two of you talking to yourselves with facial expressions and hand gestures.

The exchange ended in you hitting Porco’s arm and turning away from him, a stupid grin on your face (he was glad you turned away cause he was surely going to pass away if you kept smiling at him like that).

You arrived at the restaurant and the four of you went inside, Mikasa and Eren already at the table, making sure everything was set up. Shortly behind you, Reiner, Bertholdt, Ymir and Historia arrived, and a few minutes later, Jean, Connie and Sasha. Everyone got in there places and all there was left to do was wait for Annie and Armin, the birthday boy, to arrive.

Finally, Armin and Annie arrived, an embarrassed, red flush on Armin’s face as everyone cheered at his appearance. No one had told him the restaurant or what was being done, but he was thankful nonetheless.

You sat sandwiched between Porco and Ymir, the two of them shooting the occassional glare at the other, Marcel having to shoot the occassional “quit it” at the two to get them to stop messing with each other, but when they weren’t silently bickering, Porco was talking with you, something you were deeply grateful for.

Yes, you knew everyone here.

Yes, you’d talked and hung out with them multiple times.

But there was something about the safety you felt with Porco… A certain familiarity that was deeply comforting in a group setting.

Was it because whenever you hung out with the group, Porco was always by your side (or were you stuck to his)? Was it that the two of you had quickly become close friends due to your shared accident that day after class? The fact that he was technically the only reason you were still around?

You liked everyone that was here, they were all great people with personalities you liked, but…

Even if there was something you wanted to say, it was like your voice was caught in your throat. Trapped because you were frightened of everyone’s eyes landing on you, watching your every movement, listening to every word that left your lips- taking note, good or bad, everything about your appearance under their gaze.

It was suffocating at times…. But you didn’t feel that way when you spoke to him. He was easy to talk to. You didn’t stutter around him. You could grow loud when you spoke to him. No more quiet (Y/N).

He nudged you, pulling you out of your mind.

“What do you think would happen… if an army of zombies stormed through the doors of this restaurant right now?” He asked you. “Hypothetically.”

“How would we prep? What would we do?” you asked. He nodded, causing you to hum to yourself, thinking over the idea. “I think… I think I’d get everyone to take the tables and barricade that door opening,” You said pointing towards the entry way of the particular dining room you were in. “We have the bathrooms behind us… and if we act quickly enough, we could get into the kitchen doors over there, arm ourselves with knives or something, and barricade the back door, assuming there’s one back there.”

“That’s an idea…” He hummed to himself. “Or- hear me out- I push Reiner to the ground and we head into the kitchen, barricade the kitchen doors, and leave him for dead.”

You elbowed him, frowning.

“That’s mean!” You chided, causing him to chuckle.

“Kidding… just kidding…. I think I like Eren less-”

He gasped as you flicked his forehead.

You rushed into your class, barely making it on time. You tried your best to hide the fact that you were out of breath, and you hoped that no one could see the sweat that had appeared on your forehead. You quickly signed the sign in sheet before making your way to your usual seat, Porco snickering at your current state.

“Professor’s not even here yet,” He snarkily informed you. You rolled your eyes and took your seat next to him.

“I’ve never been late to class before, and I’m not starting today,” You told him.

He looked towards the front of the room, the professor still absent.

“Since we have a little bit of time on our hands…” You looked over at Porco right as he slid you a slip of paper. Quirking your head, you pulled it over to yourself. “I have a soccer game this Friday,” he explained to you. “I’m given a certain number of tickets for each game, so… Here’s one for you.”

“Oh right! I forgot you mentioned that on the first day of class!” You smiled as you read over the ticket.

“Interested in going…?” He asked… a hint of shyness in his voice?

“Of course!” You told him, turning to face him. “Is there anything I should do or…?”

“Well, you could make a sign that has my name on it that says ‘Porco Galliard is the best!’ Or some variation of that- that’d be amazing!”

“Arrogant much?” You teased.

“Maybe a little,” He laughed. “Pieck and Marcel usually show up to the games, and a lot of the others in the friend group do as well, especially since Jean and Eren play as well.”

“Nice.”

You looked over to the front of the classroom, the professor still not there.

“You know what they say about a late professor, right?” He asked, talking quietly to you. You shook your head, glancing over at him. He leaned in closer, as if revealing a grand secret. “If he’s not here in 15 minutes, we get to leave early.”

“I’ve never had that happen before,” you told him, eyes wide.

“Well… today might be your lucky day.” He placed his arm around your shoulders. “Today… You might get your first taste of true freedom…”

Eyes wide with wonder, your hope was immediately crushed the moment that Professor Pyxis made his way into the classroom, Porco slumping over slightly.

“Or maybe not,” he sighed, removing his arm (leaving you slightly cold).

“Maybe one day,” you sighed.

Pyxis grumbled about something about a long night, and began rambling through his lecture.

At the very least, even if you had been late, he wouldn’t have even noticed.

You threw on your university’s merch, pulling on your sweatshirt over your cast. You grabbed your poster board, tucking it under your arm, and you left your apartment, making your way to your car.

Once in, you pulled out your phone and shot Porco an OMW! text before starting your car. You made your way over to the soccer stadium, excitedly getting out of the car and making your way in, giving the ticket desk the ticket Porco gave you.

Once inside, you made your way through the stands until you found Porco’s friend group, and you gave them a shy wave as you made your way towards them.

“Oh, (Y/N)!” Sasha cheered as she spotted you. “Decided to come to the game?”

“Porco gave me a ticket,” You explained to them, joining them in the front row of the stands.

“Porco gave you a ticket?” Marcel laughed.

“He told me he gets a few to hand out so that people come to the game,” You replied shyly.

“Ohhh, I am so teasing him about this….” Marcel mumbled to himself.

“What?” You asked, looking over at him.

“It’s nothing,” He waved off.

“The players don’t get free tickets,” Sasha whispered to you. “Porco must’ve bought you a ticket.”

“O-Oh!” Your face grew heated and you grew quiet, turning back towards the field. You clutched your poster, trying to hype yourself up to unveil it when the time came.

Everyone slowly shot each other looks as you remained obliviously in your head.

Eventually, all the players came out and everyone began cheering, your eyes lighting up the moment Porco arrived on the field.

“Hey, what’s Porco’s role on the team?” You asked Marcel.

“He’s the team’s striker,” He explained. When he saw your confusion, he laughed before continuing. “He’s the team’s main scorer. They’re supposed to be fast, agile, and accurate.”

“Ohhh. What about Eren and Jean?” You asked further.

“Eren is the center forward, another reason why he and Porco don’t get along all that well. They’re both trying to score goals, but the center forward is more aggressive. Jean’s the team’s goalie, which, pretty self explanatory.”

“Nice, nice,” You said, turning back to the field. “Makes sense that Porco’s one of the offensive positions.”

“Oh yeah…” Marcel glanced down at the poster you had tucked under your arm, and he nudged you, startling you slightly. “Whatcha you got there?”

“O-O-Oh! This?” You held up the poster, but kept the side with your decorations facing away from him. “Porco said that I should make a poster for the game. I know he was just joking around, but I made one anyways…”

Marcel scrunched his nose.

“Am I allowed to get a sneak peak at the sign?”

You scooched in closer and revealed the sign to him subtly, Marcel’s face lighting up at the sign.

“He is going to love this,” He laughed.

“You think so?” You asked, bringing it back closer to yourself.

“For sure,” he assured you. He watched you closely as you turned back to the field. From what he knew about you, you were shy and easily flustered, your emotions and feelings visible to almost everyone who payed you any mind. He sighed internally, knowing that the sign was made out of friendship, but just that, nothing more (at least at the moment).

He leaned over and whispered something to Pieck. After a moment, she peered your way and gave him a nod.

A little bit later, cheers erupted from the stands as the soccer players began to file out onto the field. Searching the crowd, your eyes lit up when you spotted Eren and Jean finally, but you really got excited when you saw Porco enter the field.

Porco scanned the crowd and spotted you in the bleachers, a smile appearing on his face as he waved in your direction. You waved back, a shy, but wide grin in your face.

“Your girlfriend came to the game?” Jean asked, causing Porco’s head to snap his way, away from you.

“She’s not my girlfriend, horse face!” Porco snapped. Jean raised his hands in defense.

“Ever since the two of you met, all you’ve been doing is hanging out with her- or talking about what you’ve been doing with her. Pardon me for thinking she’s your girlfriend.”

“We’re just friends,” Porco spoke stiffly, shooting Jean a warning glare. Jean shrugged it off.

“Whatever, man.”

“We ready to go?” Eren asked, approaching the two. Both of them shot him a thumbs up and Eren returned one. “Alright, let’s go.”

Back in the stands, you couldn’t help but feel excited as everyone on the field got in their places, your eyes trained on Porco as you clutched your poster.

The game got off with a start, and even with the back and forth, you couldn’t help but feel like your university was somehow in the lead. The other team, the Mitras Lions,went to try and score a goal, but Jean expertly blocked the ball, and kicked it back out onto the field, the ball immediately being sent further down field to Porco. Your group all let out a loud cheer and Porco received the ball and maneauvered around the other team’s players and shot the ball towards the goal.

You held your breath as you watched the goalie dive for it, but he barely missed, the ball going past him and into the goal. Everyone erupted into cheers at once, amazed that the ball had gone from one end of the field to the other and a goal being scored within moments of each other- and it was the first goal of the game.

Porco turned to the stands, hearing everyone cheer, and his eyes fell on you as you finally reached for your poster and revealed it finally.

“Porco Galliard is gonna kick your butt!” The poster read, with a picture of a porcupine on it. Porco chuckled to himself, shaking his head- he loved it.

“Sure she’s not yoru girlfriend?” Eren asked as he passed him by.

“Shut the hell up.”

With Porco and Eren’s combine efforts, the Paradis Titans came out on top, winning the game. You cheered, clapping to the best of your ability as the team gathered on the field celebrating the win.

Pieck ran up to you and grabbed your arm, hugging it to her body.

“Come with me!” She told you, guiding you as she followed Marcel and the others. You let her guide you onto the field so that you could meet up with the players. You watched as a bunch of the other players slapped Porco on the shoulder, congratulating him on scoring some good points. You stood close to Pieck as you waited for him to make his way towards you.

Porco finally approached you, his usually perfectly gelled hair all messed up and falling over his face, and he was covered in sweat. You scrunched your nose as he entered smelling distance as he greeted you.

“I see you made it to the game,” He said with a smile. “And not only did you come, you made a sign for me!”

“Y-Yeah, I did,” You admitted shyly, turning the poster around so he could see it up close.

“What’s with the porcupine?” He asked, shooting you an unsure smile.

“O-Oh, well, they look scary and prickly and all that, but they’re actually kinda nice,” You explained. “Aaaand your name is Porco, which isn’t too far off from porcupine. Porcopine.”

“Hmm… I’ll accept your logic for now,” He jokingly criticized, causing you to snicker. “I like the rest of it though- I did kick their butts.”

“D’you want it?”

“Huh?”

“The poster.”

“You don’t want to keep it for future games?” There was a hint of worry in his voice- worry that you didn’t have fun.

“I’ll just make new ones,” You laughed. He breathed a sigh of relief, accepting the poster from you.

“Then yes, I’ll take it. Hang it up in my room or something,” He told you.

The two of you delved into pleasant conversation as everyone else watched.

“He is so whipped….” Marcel mumbled, Pieck nodding in agreement.

“And you said that (Y/N) doesn’t seem to feel anything for him?” Armin asked.

“Not to my knowledge- I feel like if she did, it’d be obvious- maybe not to Porco, but to us for sure.”

“The chemistry is there, that’s for sure,” Sasha sighed. Armin agreed.

“Give me time- I’ll come up with a plan. I’m sure time’s all that’s needed,” Armin said.

“You sure that meddling is the best idea?” Mikasa asked, leaning into the conversation.

“I mean- look at them,” Pieck sighed. Everyone turned to watch you and Porco talking, a smile on your face that only Porco could seem to draw out, and a certain level of softness that only you could cause Porco to show.

Feeling eyes on the two of you, Porco looked over at the large group of friends, glaring at them as if he could hear what they were discussing. You rambled on oblivioussly as Porco singlehandedly caused the group to turn back around.

“Okay, maybe you’re right,” Mikasa sighed. “How can I help?”

“Give me a few days and I’ll have a plan,” Armin declared. “Sooner or later, they’ll get together.”

“Thank you all for being so willing to meddle in my baby brother’s love life,” Marcel thanked. “I’m sure he will hate all of us before he finally, begrudgingly thanks us.”

“He could never get mad at me,” Pieck yawned.

“You and (Y/N) are the only exceptions,” Marcel sighed. “The only ones…”

Porco’s eyes flicked back over to you, his glare disappear almost immediately.

“-And I have no idea what the rules of this game are besides you want the ball in the goal, so besides being very confused the entire time, it truly was fun!”

“Glad to hear it,” Porco smiled.

“I swear to god!” Porco exclaimed. You peered up at him before looking around. The designated meeting spot was empty, and you’d even arrived a few minutes late cause you had had trouble washing your dishes with your cast, taking longer than you had meant to. “Those assholes better be here, or I will personally-!”

“Woah, easy there, Pock!” A soft voice rang out. You could see Porco shudder at the nickname you’d just heard. Turning around, you saw a shorter, black haired girled who wore a sleepy smile on her face as she walked up to you. “Marcel dropped me off at the doors, he’s having trouble finding a parking spot.”

“Acceptable, I guess…” He huffed. “(Y/N), this is Pieck, Pieck this is (Y/N),” he explained, motioning between the two of you. “Pieck’s a childhood friend of mine and my brother’s girlfriend.”

“Pock’s talked about you a lot this past week or so,” Pieck revealed, ratting him out. “Been very excited to introduce you to everybody…” She shot Porco a smug smile. Before Porco could berate her, he was interrupted by three new people showing up. There was an immensely tall guy with dark hair and looked just about as shy as you are, and with him was a blond guy who was just a few inches shorter, but was broad shouldered and strong looking and then a shorter blonde girl that looked like she could kill you with a glare.

“Ah, you finally decided to show up,” Porco said flatly as they approached.

“Campus is hectic today,” the blond guy explained. He turned to you, a smile appearing on his face as he extended his hand towards you. “Ah! You must be who we’re all meeting! Name’s Reiner, Reiner Braun.”

You accepted his hand with a shy smile, his hand dwarfing yours.

“(Y/N) (L/N),” You told him. The taller guy introduced himself as Bertholdt Hoover, and the girl introduced herself as Annie Leonhart.

“So far, everyone here is people I’ve known since I was a kid,” Porco explained to you, which told you more people were coming (there was a slight twitch in Porco’s eyes at the tardiness of the others).

Your group sat down and began talking, allowing you to get to know them better. You sat down next to Porco as he was who you knew the best, but Pieck had plopped down on your other side, giving you a smile as you chatted.

Next, an even bigger group of people arrived: Eren, Mikasa, Armin, Jean, Connie, Sasha, Ymir and Historia. Porco bit back his harsh comments as Armin apologized for the group.

“We got the rooms mixed up,” He apologized, revealing they hadn’t been late at all. You gave them all a shy wave.

“You didn’t think to text?” Porco grumbled at them, bouncing his leg.

“Pock….” Pieck grabbed his attention and he flicked his gaze over to her. She shot him a look and he took a deep breath, biting back any rude comments that had been on the tip of tongue, ready to fly out the moment anyone said something he deemed stupid.

“Hey, finally managed to grab a parking spot!” a voice called out. Turning your head, you saw Porco’s brother approaching.

“Took you long enough!” Porco teased. “How many times did you circle the lot?”

“Too many!” Marcel cried. He walked over to you and shot you a smile. “How’s your arm?”

“Better than it was, thank you,” You told him, an embarrassed blush creeping onto your cheeks. Last time you had met him, you had practically run away from him.

“Didn’t quite get to properly thank you for sitting with him while he was unconscious, so… thank you,” He told you before plopping down next to Pieck, an arm over her shoulders.

“Wait, you were with Porco at the hospital?” Sasha asked you, perking up. “We just got told that the shit got beat out of him!”

“O-Oh!” You found yourself startled by the others beginning to pay you attention. “Y-Yeah- actually, I’m kinda the reason he even went there in the first place… Some guys were trying to grab me, but he stepped in and got them to go away.”

“Woah, Porco! I didn’t know you could be so nice!” Connie teased before Jean hit him over the back of the head.

“Did you not miss the part where (Y/N) said she was nearly kidnapped by some creeps, idiot?” He chastised harshly.

As his friends began to bicker and talk amongst themselves, you felt Pieck shift next to you, your eyes flicking over to her right as she uncapped a sharpie and grabbed your broken arm. She rolled her eyes at Porco’s signature as she scribbled her own onto your cast. Marcel peered over her shoulder and a laugh burst from his lips.

“Porco, did you really have to sign it so big?!” He laughed, shooting his younger brother a suggestive look. Porco grew defiant.

“Hey, she had no other signatures and with such a big canvas, how could I not?” He defended, glancing down at your arm. Compared to how Porco signed, Pieck’s signature was quite petite and pretty, a nice flow to the letters with a small “get well” written alongside it.

Marcel popped up and grabbed the sharpie from Pieck and turned to you.

“Mind if I sign as well?” He asked. You shook your head.

“Not at all,” You said, offering your arm to him. He crouched down and also signed your cast, his handwriting similar too, but oddly messier than Porco’s (you’d assumed it would’ve been the other way around).

“Oh!!! Are we signing the cast?!?!” Sasha asked with delight.

“Oh! If we are, I’d also like to sign!” Historia chimed in. Soon, all of them were admitted that they’d sign your cast, leaving you flabbergasted. They all hardly knew you and they would want to do that for you? Porco gave you an encouraging nudge.

You gave them all a big nod and to make it easier, you moved to the floor, setting your arm on the coffee table as everyone took turns writing their names on your cast (which allowed you to solidly get names and faces down together).

Meanwhile, Porco pulled out his phone and was typing away.

“Alright, everyone, I’m making a group chat,” He announced. “(Y/N)’s in there. You know the drill. Sound off in chat so she gets all your numbers.”

Your phone buzzed next to you and you saw the initial message pop up- a not so flattering picture of Reiner with his chest photoshopped to be huge. A quietly frustrated “Really, man?” Left the blond’s lips under his breath and he texted his name into the chat.

Soon, your phone began blowing up with alerts as everyone began to text their names. You sat back on the couch and began the annoying task of entering everyone’s names into your phone, Porco watching over your shoulder as you vigorously typed away, which was taking longer than you usual due to your cast.

You heard a sigh next to you and Porco plucked your phone from your hands, picking up the task for you after having watched you struggle to effectively type. He finished the task much quicker than you would have and handed you back the phone, and you stifled a snort as you discovered all the emojis he added to people’s names (such as an angel for Historia, a horse for Jean, and a seagull for Eren?).

You texted back to the group chat with a gif of a fat bear waving, along with your full name in case anyone was confused on how to spell it.

“Everyone got that?” Porco asked. Everyone gave him a thumbs up and he muttered a “mission accomplished” under his breath, causing you to let out a small giggle.

The day went on and you began to learn more and more about this group and their dynamics.

Armin, Eren and Mikasa were childhood friends, similar to the situation that Porco, Marcel and Pieck were in, all growing up in the same neighborhood. Porco and his group met Reiner, Annie and Bertholdt in preschool, where they ended up going on to the same middle school, high school and college. Eren’s group met Sasha, Connie, Jean, Historia and Ymir in high school, but as it turns out, Ymir went to elementary and middle school with Porco’s group, just never interested with them.

Jean and Eren had a rivalry that turned more playful with time, but Porco also seemed to have a bit of a rivalry with Eren, as they were both on the soccer team (giving a sense of comradery between him and Jean). Porco’s main rivalry(?) appeared to be with Reiner however (even though it seems to be one sided), with Porco seemingly constantly annoyed and teasing of the buff blonde, but you could only assume that deep down they were actually friends.

Historia and Ymir were girlfriends, and Connie and Sasha, who you originally thought were dating, were just in fact two people who seemed to share a brain cell, Sasha mentioning to you that you needed to try her boyfriend’s cooking sometime as he was going through culinary school.

Everyone seemed to know each other and you were, in fact, the only true newbie to the group.

***********************

As the day went on, everyone slowly began to filter out slowly, waving goodbye to you as they left. Soon enough, Porco nudged you.

“Wanna grab some grub with us?” He asked, motioning towards Pieck and Marcel.

“O-Only if it’s okay,” You told him. “I’m open for the rest of the night.”

“What are we thinking?” Porco asked the others.

“I was thinking about pizza and watching a movie,” Marcel admitted. “But that involved heading back to our place- not sure if you’d want to do that, (Y/N).”

“O-Oh, if you don’t want me at your place-”

“Nonsense! If you want to tag along, tag along!” Porco encouraged you.

“They have a ton of movies,” Pieck added. “I’m sure the boys would let you pick the movie too. Guest of honor’s choice.”

“No pressure, by the way, if you don’t want to go, you don’t have to,” Marcel assured you. “Chill hang out with pizza, booze if you want it, and a movie, and Porco will drive you home, unless you decide you want to crash on the couch, that’s always an option.”

“I-If you’ll have me!” You admitted. “You guys are fun! And super nice….”

“Well- Maybe not Porco,” Marcel teased, but you shook your head.

“Thanks for reminding me- you’re brother is super nice- at least to me, that is. Wouldn’t even let me pay for my own coffee!” Porco rolled his eyes.

“Give it time, (Y/N), give it time…” He told you, but Marcel laughed, shooting Pieck a certain look you were unable to decipher. Porco sat up and shot them a glare, unbeknownst to you, telling them to knock it off.

“Shall we get going?” Pieck asked. “I’ll order the pizza on the way back to the apartment.”

“Sounds good to me.” Porco stood up and helped you up. “We don’t live too far from campus, it’s just not walking distance. Not a long drive at all.”

Porco saluted at his brother as he led you out to his car and Marcel and Pieck headed out to his.

“Hope that wasn’t too crazy earlier,” He told you, surprisingly softly. “I know there was a lot of people there, and they all kinda swarmed you for a moment there with your cast, but they’re all a nice group of people- even Eren, much to many people’s surprise.”

“It was fun,” you admitted. You looked at your cast, now filled with signatures. “One time, when I was younger, I fell and broke my other arm- but I didn’t have near as many signatures as this one has.”

“So… Have you always been so shy?” Porco asked, causing you to laugh nervously.

“Yeah… I dunno… I’m always afraid I’m bothering people, so I just kinda… end up… sticking to myself. All the friends I’ve made have been through people like you- people who just kinda grab me and say ‘let’s go’.”

“Always good to have people like me in your life,” He laughed.

He led you to his car and opened the door for you before heading over to his side.

“My place isn’t a mess, which I’m sure would surprise most people,” He told you. “I make sure to keep it pretty organized and clean. Marcel lives in a bit more of an organized chaos, so it’s really only his room that’s semi-messy, but I don’t think you’re going in there unless you're secretly a super nosy person.”

“I am not, alas,” You sighed. Porco chuckled.

“The more I talk with you, the more I’m able to figure out you personality,” He told you. “It’s nice.”

“Isn’t that how most people are?” You asked.

“Really depends on the person- some people you learn all you need to know from one interaction,” he explained. “There’s this asshole around campus, Floch. All you have to do is encounter him once, and you’ll be like ‘Yep! That’s an obnoxious asshole.’”

“Oh… Makes sense I guess,” You shrugged. “I’ll be sure to avoid him.”

“It’s for the best,” He told you. “Dude has a reddish mop of hair- looks like if he was trying to get the Bieber hair, but the barber gave him a bowl cut and went from there.”

You giggled at the mental image.

“That sounds pretty bad!”

“Well, it is truly bad- I just hope you don’t encounter him. Dude has this weird fascination with Eren and keeps trying to join the soccer team, but never makes the cut.”

The two of you continued to chat as he drove to his apartment, and you were amazed as you entered a nicer part of town. He pulled into a nice apartment complex and parked his car, motioning for you to follow him up a flight of stairs.

He guided you to an apartment on the top floor of the complex, explaining that he and his brother chose the top floor to avoid people stomping above them, explaining that he lacked the patience to deal with that.

He opened the door and led you inside, tossing his keys into the counter. The apartment was much nicer than yours and slightly roomier. It appeared to have the same number of bedrooms that yours had, but it also seemed to have more doors to it.

“Welp, this is where Marcel and I live- and pretty much Pieck on the weekends,” he explained. “She just stays in Marcel’s room.” Leading your further in, he pointed you towards a door at the end of the hall. “That’s the bathroom, if you need it, Marcel’s room is there, next to it, and then here’s my room.” He knocked on the door behind him.

Leading you back into the front of the apartment, he showed you where they kept their food and where they kept their booze before pointing you towards the living room. Leading you over to the tv stand you showed you how to operate the tv and bins full of movies for you to choose from.

“Got a genre you feeling?” He asked, bending known next to you. You paused for a moment, thinking it over, before looking back up at him.

“…. How do you feel about horror?” You asked. A scarily wide grin appeared on his face.

“Couldn’t have chosen a better genre myself,” He told you. “Pieck blames my love of horror on me being a Scorpio, but I’m not sure what that all means.”

“It makes sense,” You agreed, causing him to shrug.

“So, what kind of horror we feeling? Supernatural or slasher?”

“What’s the scariest movie you have?” You asked. A devilish grin appeared on Porco’s face, and he reached into the bin, pulling out a movie called The Corpse of Ymir.

“It’s a Zombie Apocalypse movie with a twist- has some insane visuals to it,” he told you, and you gave him a nod.

“That one’s been on my list for awhile now!”

His grin somehow grew wider.

“So it absolutely has to be this one? Amazing.”

He set the movie down and helped you up right as Marcel and Pieck came through the door.

“You guys pick a movie?” Marcel asked. Pieck saw Porco’s mysterious grin and all it took was a quick glance at the cover to realize a horror movie had been chosen.

“Oh no, (Y/N), did Pock pressure you into a horror movie? You don’t have to-”

“Oh, actually I thought a horror movie would be fun…” you shyly admitted. Porco grabbed you and brought you in front of him, placing his hands on the top of your head and then his chin on top of them.

“It seems my new bff is a person of taste~” He bragged at them. Marcel rolled his eyes, but Pieck just sighed.

“We did say she could pick the movie, so horror it is,” She said, honoring her word.

“I’m your new bff?” You asked Porco, glancing up at him.

“You’re obligated to be after what we’ve been through,” He joked, causing you to laugh.

You’d take it.

“Anyone want something to drink?” Marcel asked, his head in the fridge.

“I’m good for now,” Pieck replied. “Might grab one of mine later.”

“Grab me a Guinness,” Porco called out. He glanced at you. “Want anything?”

“Uhh….. W-What do you have?”

“Fruity drink or beer?” Marcel asked.

“Ummm….. Fruity.” Porco nudged you forward and you walked up to the fridge, allowing you to look inside. “Oh, um…. I’ll go with the Strawberry Daquiri thingy- it seems pretty tame.”

“Doesn’t even taste like alcohol,” Marcel agreed, grabbing it for you. He popped it into a koozie. You sipped on it a little as the movie got set up, and it wasn’t long before there was a knock at the door. Porco hopped over to it and answered, grabbing the pizza and paying for it, setting it on the table.

“Dinner’s ready!” He called out. “I worked so hard on it, everyone say thank you.”

“Thank-”

Pieck covered your mouth, preventing you from finishing.

“Don’t thank him when I did all of the work,” She jokingly teased, releasing your face.

“T-Thank you, Pieck!” You said, much to Porco’s dismay.

Marcel was the first to grab his food and settle down in the living room.

“Hurry up, you people, I’m ready to rock and roll!” He declared. You chuckled and let the other’s grab their slices before you grabbed yours, heading back into the living room. Marcel was on the couch, Pieck lounging by his side, and Porco had taken up one of the chairs, which left an admittedly comfortable looking beanbag chair for you to claim.

Porco had dragged the chair next to him, slightly in front of him, so that you’d have a good view of the tv.

“Come on and sit down- one of the best seats in the house,” He told you. You sat down in the chair, and indeed, it was truly a comfortable seat worthy of sitting in- comfier than you thought it would be.

Marcel grabbed the remote.

“Everyone ready?” He asked. With a hum sounding off from everyone, he hit play and the movie began in all of its glory.

Your jaw was nearly on the floor the entire movie. For a zombie apocalypse movie, the story had captured your heart with its complexity- but most importantly, the horror had enraptured you! The gore! The scares! The Horror! Oh! Phenomenal!

Porco tapped your shoulder and motioned for you to look at the couch. Both Pieck and Marcel had fallen asleep together, and you hadn’t even noticed since you were so into the movie.

Porco stifled a laugh as he got up and moved over to Pieck, gently waking her up, but before she could reach to wake up her boyfriend, Porco stopped her. After an exchange of silent words, she gave up and stood up quietly, stretching. She gave you a sleepy wave, quietly telling you goodnight before making her way to Marcel’s room.

Shooting you a wink, Porco stepped back before jumping onto the couch and onto his brother. You watched as Marcel startled awake, looking as if his soul almost left him. You covered your mouth as Marcel shoved Porco off of him and onto the floor, the blonde laughing his head off.

Marcel grumbled as he got up.

“I’m going to bed,” He announced, giving his brother a kick as he passed by. He gave you a small wave before he moped off to his room. Porco looked up at you.

“So, what’s the plan, (L/N)? Spend the night or go back to your place?” He asked.

You froze. On one hand, it was late and he looked tired, and you didn’t want to make him drive, but on the other hand, you’d only known them for a few weeks and you didn’t want to feel like-

“Hey! I see those gears turning,” Porco told you as he sat up. “Watch this neat lil trick.”

You watched as he stood up and he revealed that the couch was actually a futon. He gave it a pat before turning to you.

“See? We got a place for you to sleep,” He assured you. You stiffened in your seat.

“I don’t want to impose,” You attempted to argue, but he shook his head.

“We have people over all the time,” he explained to you. “It’s no problem at all.” You sighed, giving in. You didn’t even really feel like trekking home at this time of night either.

“Consider me convinced,” You sighed, a yawn following close after.

“Here, I‘ll grab something for you to wear,” He said as he walked off to his room. Few minutes later, he returned with a plain tshirt and sweatpants that you could wear to bed. You accepted them with a shy smile.

“Thank you,” You spoke quietly.

“Bathrooms down the hall, my door is on the right of the hallway if you need anything,” He explained.

“Thank you, I hope you sleep well- and sorry for staying over so late-”

“How’d you enjoy the movie?”

“Oh! I loved the movie! It was amazing!”

“Then you staying late was worth it,” He assured you. “Quit fretting about it, I like your company.” He paused for a moment, yawning. “Anyways, get comfy, do whatever you want- I’m gonna go to bed now. G’Night!”

“Good night,” You spoke softly as Porco made his way to his room.

You waited for Porco to close his door before you made your way to the bathroom so you could change and get ready for bed.

***************************

Porco fought every urge in his body to scream. GOD he liked you so much- and he’d only known you for a few weeks! Something about you was so magnetic to him, he couldn’t resist!

He laid on his bed, staring up at the ceiling.

You were going to be the death of him if you continued to dare to be so- so….. so adorable! He cursed you for how cute you were!

If he had any chance with you… he was going to have to play his cards carefully….. and find a way to not ruin his friendship with you.

You pulled your jacket on, being careful when pulling it over your unsigned cast. It was the following Tuesday from your attempted kidnapping and subsequent trip to the hospital.

Just like you had been, you pulled on your backpack and made your way out of your apartment, now even more cautious than you had been, reassuring yourself that the door was locked.

You hurriedly made your way to campus and to your classes, your keychain (with a newly purchased pepper spray) in hand. Your first class went smoothly, and offered some reprieve to your worried mind, distracting you from last week's events as you focused on the class’s contents and lectures….. but you weren’t as lucky with your next class.

You sat in the back of the class once again, preparing for your class to begin. As you’d entered the class, you’d signed in on the sign in sheet immediately before rushing to your seat… but it was the existence of the sign in sheet that left you oblivious to who else was in this class as well.

You nearly leapt from your skin as someone sat down next to you suddenly. Their hand came to your shoulder, the voice coming out soothingly.

“Easy, easy, it’s just me,” He spoke. You turned to look over, only to find Porco next to you. His face was all patched up, but still looked quite rough. He donned a healing black eye and bandages where the skin on his face had split, mainly his eyebrow and lip. You felt your chest tighten with guilt.

“Y-You have this class as well?” You asked, shocked, as he sat back. He gave you a nod.

“Yeah, didn’t know you were here either,” He admitted. He glanced at your broken arm.

“I… I’m sorry I didn’t notice you were in trouble sooner,” He told you, scratching the back of his neck. “I’d’ve come sooner otherwise.”

“N-No! You’re perfectly okay, I-” You heard the chime of the university’s clock tower and the professor entering the room.

Porco looked towards the front of the classroom before leaning in and speaking quietly.

“Do you have class after this?” He asked. You shook your head shyly. “Want to go to the campus cafe after this and… talk?”

You thought it over for a second before giving him a nod, a smile cracking on his face.

“Amazing,” He told you quietly with a smile. You couldn’t help but give him a shy smile in return. You both turned your attention towards the professor as he began his lecture.

************************

You quietly followed Porco to the coffee shop and got in line with him.

“What do you want?” He asked you, glancing down at you.

“I was gonna go with the mocha frappe…” You shyly admitted. He tsked before turning toward you.

“Expensive expensive,” he jokingly chided as he pulled out his wallet. You panicked.

“A-Are we not ordering separately? I-I thought-”

“Don’t worry about it, it’s on me- I was only joking,” He told you. “I’m the one who invited you out, remember?”

“It’s okay, really,” You told him. “I’ll get my own drink, you’ve done too much for me already!”

“Don’t care,” He told you. He stepped up to the counter and before you could beg him to change his mind, he ordered both of your drinks and paid for them. He led you over to a table and the two of you sat down.

“I’m sure we look like quite a pair,” He chuckled to himself after a moment.

“W-What do you mean?” You asked, shrinking in your seat.

“Well, you with your cast and me and- well, my face,” He told you. He paused for a moment before looking back down to your arm. “How…. How is your arm, by the way? My brother told me that you’d seemingly broken it…”

“I- well, it’s better,” You admitted. “It hurt for a while there, but…. It’s getting better….” You looked up to his face, examining the injuries he had. “What about you? How are you doing?”

“I’ve had worse injuries,” He also admitted. “This is nothing… They just snuck up on my bad side is all- got the upper hand on me.”

“What do you mean by that?- I-If I might ask!” You asked nervously, worried you had offended him with the bluntness of your question.

He simply chuckled and point to the right side of his face.

“I’m deaf in my right ear- have some vision issues as well, though nothing terrible. Was in an accident awhile ago that caused it,” He told you. “Could’ve been a lot worse, I’m lucky that’s all that happened to me.”

“I see….” You sighed. Your drinks were called out and Porco excused himself to go retrieve them.

When he returned, you accepted your frappe with more glee than you’d cared to let on (which he thought was rather adorable).

“My brother told me that you were hanging out with me before he arrived,” Porco said plainly. “Also told me that you bolted the moment he showed up. What was that about?”

“O-Oh!” You startled. “I-I didn’t want you to be alone in case you woke up…. But when your brother arrived, I was worried he might not want me in there- or if you even wanted me in there… So I left…”

Porco let out a hum, fighting down a chuckle. If there was one thing he was learning about you from this whole conversation was that you were shy- extremely so, and all your actions made sense to him when he kept that in mind.

He looked to your cast and saw that it was empty of all signatures, and he frowned.

“I know you said it was your first week of college here,” He began, finally looking up at you. “But do you not have anyone here?”

“W-What do you mean?” You asked nervously.

“Your cast- it’s empty,” He pointed out. “Most people get loaded up with signatures even within the first few days, but you don’t have any.”

“O-Oh,” you sighed. “Well… All my friends are elsewhere… and my family is out of town… So I’ve been on my own so far.”

He frowned.

“Well, let’s change that.”

Before you could question him, he had pulled a sharpie out from his bag and pulled your arm towards himself.

You were even more shocked when he wrote his first and last name in all caps as big as they could be on your cast, right where you’d always be able to see it.

“There, you have a signature,” He told you proudly, capping his sharpie. You allowed yourself to smile at it before looking up at him, now determined.

“H-Hey, Porco?” You asked. He gave you a hum. “I-I-I want to repay you for what you’ve done for me- its the least I could do.”

He sat back in his chair, thinking it over.

“…. Anything I request….?”

“Anything! I’m in your debt!”

“Hmm…. Well what an interesting situation we have here,” He thought aloud to himself, causing you to quirk your head. He sat back forward, a devious look on his face.

“How about this? You let me walk you back from class on Thursdays,” He offered. You startled, shocked by his request.

“I-I-… You’re just doing me a favor again!” You argued, but he shook his head.

“Hey, where do you live?” He asked, ignoring your protest.

“I live at the apartments on Fritz and Helios…” You admitted, causing him to frown.

“Walk you back- hell, I’ll drive you back from class!” He told you.

“But that’s just helping me even more!” You argued. “I want to help you! I-”

“I’ll feel a lot better knowing that those creeps aren’t gonna go after you again,” he told you. “Me being there with you would be a great relief for me- it was scary noticing you in that situation.”

“Let me get this straight….” You realIzed. “You’d drive me back from class every Thursday after that godforsaken three hour class…. Because it’d make you feel better? That’s how you want me to repay you???”

He pretended to think for a moment before nodding.

“Precisely that,” He told you.

“Why though? I could’ve brought you to dinner… or dinners… or even a big ice cream gift card- why that?”

“Because- don’t tell anyone this,” he warned you. “I’m a worrier, secretly. I worry about people- and I have been worrying about you.”

“… This is what you want…. Truly? How you want me to repay you?”

“Yes,” He confirmed for the millionth time. You sighed, giving in.

“Alright…. Besides… It’ll make me feel better, especially after that!”

A smile creeped onto his face and he extended his hand towards you.

“Deal?”

You took it with a sigh.

“Deal.”

“So…. Minus the… three hour class in the evening,” He began, “Is your schedule on Thursday the same as this one?” You gave him a nod. “Well…. If you want…. We’ll have time to kill, so let me show you around some, alright? All the fun stuff on campus and maybe even in town if you’re willing.”

A soft smile appeared on your face. It’d be your first time truly hanging out with anyone since you arrived here, and better yet, it seemed like he was extending friendship towards you, friendship you sorely needed.

“Sounds fun.”

************************

Thursday came quickly and you found yourself being led to Porco’s car. His car didn’t surprise you, but you still found yourself impressed.

“1977 Camaro,” He told you, a proud expression on his face. “Took awhile to hunt it down- took a little longer to fix it up, but I love her to death.”

“I just have a ‘93 Explorer,” you admitted. “Got it for a decent price.”

Porco opened the passenger door for you and shut it after you climbed in. He jogged around to his side and hopped in, starting the car.

“So… Where you taking me first?” You asked shyly, glancing over at him. He looked over at you before he began to back the car out.

“Coffee, of course,” He told you as if it had been obvious. “Pick something up in the drive through so we don’t fall asleep in Lagnar’s class later.”

That earned a giggle out of you, causing him to bite back a smile- you were too cute for his own good.

“Smart thinking- but you’re letting me pay for mine this time!” You argued.

“Only if you find a way to make me not pay for you,” He retorted. You frowned, which had no effect on his position.

“Can we take turns paying?” You asked him, but he shook his head.

“Nuh uh!”

“I’m gonna tattle on you to your brother if I ever meet him again….” You pouted, causing Porco to laugh.

“You don’t even know my brother’s name!”

“I know what he looks like though!”

“You think my brother’s gonna get onto me for being nice?” Porco laughed further. “He’d be happy I was being nice for once!”

“Are you not usually nice?” You asked, turning your head towards him.

“Let’s just say I have a bit of a reputation for being hot headed,” He told you. “Maybe even a little bit of a jerk depending on who you ask.”

You recalled the scowl he wore on his face that first time you saw him.

“You seem awfully nice to me,” You retorted, but he shook his head.

“It’s cause you’ve never given me a reason to be a jerk to you,” He told you. “Truthfully, I don’t think you’d ever give me a reason to be a jerk to you- you’re so shy and nice- I think I’d feel guilty if I was mean to you.”

“I’ll have to fact check this information, but… Whatever you say,” You giggled.

Oh, if only you knew.

************************

Porco watched as your smile grew wider and you came more and more out of your shell as the day went on- he even learned things about you, who knew!

He found out that the only reason you’d been able to attend was through some weird inheritance thing, and you were trying to be frugal enough to spread it out over the years without having to worry. Your parents worried about you, but they lived hours away in another town. You’d explained to him that you were secretly excited to be living away from your family, it wasn’t that you didn’t love them, but it felt like you had an opportunity to see what life was without their protectiveness guarding you.

“And then the first week of school, you almost got kidnapped?” He had asked you, causing your face to redden.

“Y-yeah, I didn’t tell them about that….” You’d admitted, causing his head to snap towards you in bewilderment.

“WHY?!” He’d cried.

“I didn’t want them to worry!” You defended yourself, nervously. “They do know I broke my arm, though… they just think I tripped and fell.”

It wasn’t just him that learned, it was you as well.

You found out that Porco’s brother’s name was Marcel, and despite looking nearly identical, his brother was just a year older than him. His parents were the well off owners of a local restaurant chain that you’d seen advertised around town.

Before too long, you found yourself heading back to campus and heading for the class. The two of you hurried to the classroom, sitting in the spots you did lost time, but admittedly feeling much better than you did the week before, now having made one friend.

Professor Lagnar ran into the room frantically beginning the class right as she entered. Throughout the class, you made sure to take notes dutifully, but occasionally, Porco would slide his notebook towards you and tap his pencil to grab your attention, usually with a silly comment or doodle drawn on it, causing you to stifle a giggle before shooting him a disapproving glance (he knew you liked them).

When the close finally released you from its grasp, Porco helped you with your bag before the two of you began heading for his car once again.

“You know, you really don’t have to do this,” You told him again, looking at him nervously. He glanced over at you, a smile on his face.

“I know I don’t- I’m doing this cause I want to, cause it’ll make me feel better,” He told you. You watched him skeptically. He paused before spinning to face you, walking backwards. “And cause I’m thinking that you and I?” He motioned between the two of you. “I think we’d be excellent friends.”

“You… think so?” You asked nervously. “You hardly know me.” He thought for a moment as the two of you reached his car.

“It’s a…. It’s a feeling,” He admitted. “There’s something about you that I like, (L/N). Can’t place my finger on it yet, though.” He opened the car door for you and allowed you to climb in. He shut the door behind you before hopping into the driver's seat. “You said your apartment was the one at Helios and Fritz?”

“Yep, that’s the one,” You sighed.

“And you walk to and from there for school? You don’t drive?” He asked as he backed out.

“I… I figured I was close enough to Campus, I wouldn’t need to buy a parking pass… Figured I could just walk,” You admitted.

“What about if it’s rainy?” Porco asked you. His head was turned towards you so he could hear you better, his eyes still trained on the road, though.

“What do you mean?” You turned towards him. He chuckled, glancing your way for a moment.

“What if its like, storming when you’re on your way to class? You’re gonna walk through that?” He clarified for you.

“I-” You paused. “.... I have an umbrella… a rain jacket…. I might need to invest in some shoes….” He laughed at that as you reached a stop light.

“(Y/N), just call me if you need a ride,” He pulled out his phone and unlocked it, quickly pulling up a blank text before handing you his phone. The light turned green and he continued to drive. You looked down at the phone and put in your number before texting yourself. Before you handed it back, you added your name to the contact adding a smiley face.

Your drive ended soon after, as Porco pulled into your apartment complex. You pointed him to your building. He pulled into the nearest spot and turned to you a soft smile his face.

“Your home, madame,” He told you jokingly. You handed his phone back before opening the text and pulling up the contact info, handing him your phone so he could insert it himself. He quickly typed it in before handing your phone back to you (you could see that he added the devil smile emoji next to his name briefly before you locked your phone).

“I… Had fun today,” You told him, as you grabbed your bag. “This week was far superior to last week so…. Thank you for that.” Porco nodded, unsure how to accept your thanks.

“... Same thing next week?” He asked. “I enjoyed hanging out with you- breath of fresh air from my usual friend group.”

“What are they like…?” You asked shyly. He let out a brief, nervous chuckle.

“Loud- rambunctious… annoying!- Not like you.”

“I can be-! I can be loud….. Rambunctious….” you kicked your feet a little, little thuds sounding out as they hit the floor. Your glanced over at him, an air of joking defiance to you. “.... annoying….”

He laughed at that.

“Tell you what,”He said before you left the car. “Do you have classes on Fridays?”

“Nope- that god forsaken 3 hour class is my last class of the week.”

“Cool- next Friday, I’ll gather my loud, rambunctious, annoying friend group, and I’ll introduce you to them,” He told you. “If you want to that is.”

“I… I would love to,” You assured him with a smile. “Not exactly making a lot of friends at the moment besides you-”

“You mean none.”

“Yeah…” you chuckled nervously. “+1 friend so far, which leaves me with a grand total of… 1.”

“A damn good one.”

“A damn good one…”

You popped open the car door, glancing back at him.

“Thank you- really,” You told him. “.... I Have a hard time accepting help- makes me feel like a burden, so… If you hadn’t made me let you take me home, I’d be scared out of my mind right now… so really…. Thank you.”

“Any time,” He told you. You gave him a smile before hopping out of his car, giving him a wave goodbye. “See you next week!”

“See you then!” you waved as you made your way to your apartment.

You could hear his car drive off after a moment as you reached your apartment’s door. You hopped inside quickly, a wide grin on your face. You’d had more fun today than you had in a long time. Opening your phone, you saw the text you’d sent to yourself from his phone. You took a deep breath before calling your mother, dropping your bag on the floor before heading into the kitchen.

“Hey, Mom…. Yeah… Yeah, this week’s a lot better… You’ll never guess what!”

You took a deep breath.

You could do this!

“I can do this…” You attempted to reassure yourself. You adjusted your clothes and looked yourself over in the mirror. It was your first day at your new University- your dream school- The University of Paradis. It was your sophomore year, and through bizarre circumstances (inheritance from a relative you didn’t even know), you now found yourself with the funds to attend, having transferred over from Wall Maria University.

You found an apartment close enough to campus that it was convenient and walkable, but cheap enough that you didn’t feel a hole burning in your pocket with your newfound wealth. You were doing your best to stretch the money over the next few years, and campus housing itself was too expensive.

You grabbed your laptop and secured it in your backpack, finally feeling ready for the day.

A smile on your face, you left your apartment, locking it behind you. The hopes of meeting new people, making friends, learning new things- all at your dream university??? It all excited you greatly!

What could go wrong?

****************************

You underestimated your shy nature.

There were so many people around you, many you wanted to talk to, but the moment you went to speak, your voice would stop in your throat, and you couldn’t bring yourself to say any words.

You sat defeated in your last class of the week. It was a late, once a week, three hour english class. According to your schedule, you were stuck here until 9, but you hoped since it was syllabus week, you’d get lucky and get out early.

You pulled out your notebook and began mindlessly doodling on it, waiting for the class to begin. You sat in the back, away from people, hoping to isolate yourself and wallow in self pity- only, your self pity session was interrupted when someone plopped down in the seat next to you.

You glanced over at them, stealing a look at the person who dared to interrupt your despair.

He had blondish, slicked back hair and an undercut, and wore a slighty pissed off look on his face. He wore a green bomber jacket, with a white shirt, dark jeans, and combat boots.

His head began to turn in your direction, but you quickly averted your gaze, choosing to look back down at your notebook, acting as if you had never stopped doodling.

You felt his gaze linger on you for a second before he turned his attention back to his own stuff, pulling out his laptop and getting set up for the dreaded long class.

After what seemed like forever in uncomfortable silence, the Professor finally entered the room at the last second and frantically threw her stuff down and pulled out the roll call.

“Hello! Sorry I wasn’t here to greet all of you,” she told the class, “One of my colleagues decided to hold me up- I’m Professor Ilse Lagnar, and I’ll be teaching you this semester! This is my third year teaching here at Paradis, and when I’m not teaching English, I help run the university newspaper!”

She held up the roll call and cleared her throat.

“Now! When I call out your name, raise your hand and tell us something about yourself!”

The class collectively died inside- some actually groaning out loud.

The boy next to you scoffed beneath his breath.

“Alright, so let’s get this started! And don’t relax if you think you’ll have time to think if you’re later in the alphabet- I’m randomizing this!” She announced, to everyone’s further disdain.

She began to call out names one by one, people begrudgingly giving the basest of fun facts about themselves when they were called- and you didn’t blame them, you couldn’t think of anything good either.

“Porco Galliard!” Professor Lagnar called out, getting towards the end. The boy next to you raised his hand, an uncomfortable look on his face.

“Here!” He said. You were taken aback by his voice and the slight attitude it had to it. You kinda liked it… “Uh… I’m a sophomore and I play for the university’s soccer team.”

“Thank you, Mr. Galliard…” The professor trailed off, looking back down at her list. “Ah! (Y/N) (L/N)!”

Your heart skipped a beat and panic filled you as you raised your hand.

“H-Here!” You managed to squeak out- you could feel the Porco boy’s eyes on you. “I-I, uh, I’m also a sophomore- I transferred here from Wall Maria University, so this is my first year here….”

“Welcome to Paradis, Ms. (L/N)!” She greeted. “How you liking it so far?”

“I- Well, uh,” You stumbled. “This was my dream school- I like it a lot, it’s just taking some getting used to…”

You hoped to god she didn’t further the conversation.

“Ah, you’ll get used to it in no time!” And to your relief, she didn’t continue the conversation, and began calling out more names.

You sneakily slipped your phone out of your pocket and checked the time, biting your lip. A lot of time had passed already, and you hadn’t even touched the syllabus. Why on earth would she decided to have everyone introduce themselves with this big of a class???? You wanted to cry.

****************************

It seems that your misfortune continued. Professor Lagnar opened her mouth to begin discussing the next section of the syllabus, but was interrupted when the university’s clock tower rang out nine times.

“O-Oh! Well I guess that’s our time for the day!” She nervously told the class, beginning to gather her stuff. “I hope you have a nice rest of the week and get home safely!”

You let out a sigh and began to pack your things, the boy next to you quickly shoving his laptop in his bag before rushing out of the classroom. Once your things were collected, you threw on your backpack and began to walk back to your apartment in the dark.

****************************

The sidewalk was dark and barely illuminated by the dying streetlights. You shivered slightly and pulled your jacket closer to your body as you made your way down. You were barely off campus and it’d be a few more blocks until you were at your apartment.

You nearly leapt from your skin when you heard a leaf crunch from behind you, and when you glanced over your shoulder, you could see a group of men walking on the sidewalk not too far away from you.

Your chest suddenly hurt with the panic that rushed your system.

You looked forward, keeping your eyes ahead. Maybe they weren’t creepers? Maybe they were just heading in the same direction you were…. No need to be so judgy…. Right?

Only you were right- and once the felt you were an easy catch, they rushed you. Glancing back over your shoulder, you saw them rushing you and you let out a scream, attempting to run, but the managed to grab you.

“L-LET GO!” You cried, your voice filled with panic. Your breaths came out heavily and your chest began to hurt with the dread that filled you. “HEY! LEAVE ME ALONE!”

“Someone shut her up!” One of the men said as you struggled. They began to drag you in a direction against your will. As one of the men went to gag you, you heard a car door slam shut and footsteps running towards you, followed by an angered shout.

You found yourself being thrown to the ground, landing on your arm awkwardly. You let out a cry as pain filled your arm, emanating mainly from your wrist.

Looking back, you couldn’t believe your eyes- it was the guy from your class! His fist met the nose of one of your attempted kidnappers and he was giving them hell, only, he didn’t seem to notice one that was sneaking up from behind his right side.

“Hey, look out!” You attempted to warn, but Porco didn’t realize that the man was there, and right as he had turned to deal with him, the man’s fist met his face and he got knocked to the ground. Two men who hadn’t been knocked out began to kick him, filling you with dread and worry, but blue and red lights lit up in the distance.

The men that were still conscious made a break for it, abandoning their friends and their effort to kidnap you. You managed to get up to the best of your ability and you ran towards Porco, falling onto your knees next to him, clutching your arm.

His face was bloodied and he’d been knocked out with one of the blows he’d taken to the head. He laid there scarily still as the campus police drove up and rushed towards you.

Everything seemed to move quickly- from the moment you noticed the men, the moment Porco came and saved you from them, up until now, when an ambulance rolled up. The EMTs got Porco onto the stretcher and helped you into the ambulance as well, taking both of you to the hospital.

You sat there still, watching Porco’s unconscious face. This guy who you just sat through a three hour class with, not a word spoken between the two of you- and now you were on your way to the hospital with him because he saved your life.

What were the odds?

****************************

You frowned at your arm, which was now in a purple cast. Sure enough, when they’d pushed you to the ground, you’d broken it.

Looking up, you saw that Porco was still out of it. His face was all patched up, bandages here and there all over. The hair that had appeared to be so meticulously gelled earlier was all messed up and fallen down over his face, making him look quite different than before.

You felt odd, sitting here, staring at him…. Honestly, you could have left the hospital awhile back, but you didn’t want him to be alone when he woke up- alone, and possibly confused as to how he ended up in his current situation if he didn’t remember.

Your eyes fell back down to your cast. Your arm felt heavy, unused to the feeling of the new cast, on top of the achy pain you still felt from having broken it. It reminded you of just how frightening of a situation you’d been in- but it was just your luck that that would’ve happened.

Your first week in a new town, at your dream university, after not having made a single new friend, not having seen one familiar face- of course it’d just be your luck that out of everyone, you’d be the target of an attempted kidnapping on the first week of school.

Stealing another glance at the boy, you found yourself eternally grateful for him. Had he not been there, who knows what would have happened? He risked his life to save yours, and now here you both were at the hospital, safe, but harmed.

You nearly leapt from your skin when the door to the room opened, a nurse ushering in a boy who looked nearly identical to Porco, just with dark brown hair- they had to be brothers. His eyes met yours, shocked to see you in there, but he quickly turned his gaze towards his brother.

“You must be the girl he saved,” The guy realized. “My brother always was one to rush in to help people.”

You jumped up from your seat and walked up to him, a nervous look on your face.

“I-I’m s-sorry for being in here,” You apologized. “I didn’t want him to be alone in case he woke up!”

“Y-You’re good!” He assured you, unsure of why you seemed so nervous and apologetic. “Don’t worry about my brother, I’m sure he’ll be fine- he’s stubborn like that.”

“T-That’s good to hear!” You told him, a shy smile appearing on your face, but guilt over his brother’s condition flooded you. “I-I should get going! I’m sorry! Tell your brother I said thank you so much!”

Before the guy could get out another word, you bolted, leaving him confused and worried.

He let out a sigh before approaching Porco’s bed, sitting down on the edge of it.

“You’re a hot mess, you know that, right?” He told him. “Always rushing in without a second thought…. I’m glad you did, but man, did you give mom and dad a fright…..”