He was too guarded to respond, any lingers of respect for you discarded years back when he still graced the world with any signs of joy. He disassociates his stare back to the ground, moving one hand up to the base of his neck. It combs through the wavy strands complimenting his bun, which seemed to have loosened since you first glanced at his silhouette back in his truck. His locks aimed to reach his shoulders, but honestly he looked good with any length.

Fuck, shut up.

"Well, this has been eventful." Jean interrupted, coughing a ridiculous amount of times to lighten the mood. "You're not even going to ask how she is? And after years of ignoring her too. Tough crowd I guess", wrapping his arm around your shoulder like before. Eren questioned his words, snarling his lip until feeling Mikasa's hand take his from behind. She signaled that their other friend had called out to them unknowingly, and wanted to pay him a welcome. You wave in goodbye, knowing fully well his eyebrows that raise in annoyance respectfully tell you to fuck off. He begins approaching the friend much more important to him, following the sound of his name being called. You decide to keep your eyes on the two, noticing the way she grips his fingers with her own, the way he doesn’t seem to mind it. He always burnt up when you used to hold his hand, or tell him how cute you thought he was, though he assumed you were only saying so to be nice. The memory was unforgettable. A slightly smaller boy frantically waving to acquire their attention. Armin was counseling this year too? The blonde's hair was definitely shorter than before, and gratefully he still wore that sweet smile on his face calling out for his friends.

You push Jean's arms off light-heartedly, letting him grab Sasha and Connie's attention once again before giving the three a final wave, excusing yourself to get situated for your stay. You proceed with your luggage through the main field, eyeing Gabi handing Falco their group information sheets to follow throughout their stay. The boy's face brightens as he reads the planned activities, so purely and filled with adoration. How you remember your own feelings on opening day, you bounced around as if trampolines were implanted to your feet. There was so much joy and such little care for anything else in the world. You only hoped you hadn't outlived that happiness.

The office before you quite literally buckles your trembling knees. Pinehurst faculty and directory, those words nailed into a board above the office send memories back in flashes. Infirmary visits, recklessly committing rebellious acts, who used to lie beyond the closed doors. Rusty hinges cracked and creaked how they did years ago, letting you inside to meet a small figure behind his work surface. Your throat managed a "Sir?", seeing the man swivel in his wooden chair. His grey eyes scanned over you tightly, gears in his mind turning to identify who came to annoy him at this moment.

"Welcome back, L/n. It’s been a while since i last saw you."

Levi saunters over from his position, a faint smirk growing with his form that gives you a slight nod. He almost seemed pleased to see your presence and frankly it was odd to say the least. Have you ever seen his lips rise above a frown before?

"Good to see you again too, sir. I'm beyond happy to assist this year." you warmly smile, fearful of annoying him with your usual run-on conversations. He nods his head and outstretches an arm to hand you a few credentials while you pick up a pen from his table, bending over the small coffee stand to scribble your signature. It's nothing more than illegible, but whatever makes this situation between counselor and past camper any less uncomfortable would be ideal.

"Are you still afraid of me L/n?"

"No sir."

"Your handwriting looks like a toddler's because you’re shaking so much, I'm not blind." He could practically feel your heart pound at his voice alone, but it was rather difficult not to when the camp's role model stood before you. Levi gently closed his eyes, quietly chuckling in gratitude for how respectful you’d always been to him, he truly appreciated you. Turning to grab something behind him, he begun clarifying your rooming information. Using his fingers to guide you in a visual series of directions, you simply nodded with every swipe of his finger across the imaginary map of the camp in a confident uncertainty. Hopefully you’d have some idea how to follow them, though the camp was reconstructed some years back without staff approval. "Listen, if you get lost anywhere just ask Jaeger. You're rooming with him anyways."

And after pretending to understand all he’s been saying to you, his last sentence finally rings through clearly. Your nodding of understanding comes to a halt, alerting your entire body to come back to its senses.

"Say that one more time?" You croak.

"Eren? We decided to pair the two of you up."

“Who’s we?”

“The council? It was pretty unanimous actually.”

Unbelievable, truly the worst case scenario of the summer. There was no way you’d be able to pair up with him, not after how disgustingly he treated you minutes ago. Something had to be done immediately, because no one in their right mind would spend the summer co-counseling with their ex best friend, nevermind you'd be rooming together.

“I can’t room with him, I physically can’t.” you fling your folder of papers back into his desk, far too riled up to apologize.

“There’s a big difference between “can’t” and “don’t want to”.” He replies, raising an eyebrow in apathy and the slightest bit of irritation. His finger’s sprawl over your untidy packet of papers, dragging them back over to your side of the table.

"Don't act like he doesn't mean anything to you. You were practically inseparable back in my group and i’m a little troubled as to how years without you even contacting each other could have made you hate each other’s guts." You weren't sure what to do, react? There was no point in trying to explain. Levi knew Eren like his own palm, he must’ve heard how many times you tried calling the young boy each day once the new school years would begin, how the phone would ring for what felt like eternities of agonizing longing. How you’d sit by your porch window, holding your parents telephone in line with the darkening horizon praying for better connection. Yet Eren never answered. Not one word had been spoken between you in several years and someone he had the audacity to be mad with you. But what would be the use of arguing against someone whose connection to him was like a second father-figure? Any word against Eren could worsen your existing feud. So in closing out those thoughts, throwing the memories that would never stop shattering your heart to the back of your mind, you plastered on a respectful, uneven smile of misunderstanding, just like how you always reacted to situations you felt hopeless about.

"Levi when did you make cabins Co-Ed!?"

The strain in your voice was still present from your conflicting thoughts, your hands hadn't stopped fidgeting with each other since you walked in. Easing the nerves he built up weren't in your favor at all, so Levi figured it was best to explain everything from the start again to relax the calm demeanor you were failing miserably to fake, no matter how tedious it would be for him.

"Co-ed cabins were a much cheaper investment ever since Camp Marceign across the lake began whatever feud is going on." That aids you in the slightest, revealing shards of memories with the friendly campers on the other side, playing games alongside an old church building both acres shared, the thrilling competitions and team activities you’d always held with each other,

the confrontations and conflicts against those you believed to be most trusted, the blood and loss of those closest to you as the result.

"We trust the ages and behavior of the staff to stay respectful with and around each other..." Levi brought his gaze back up to you, watching you snap back into reality. He was wincing in the slightest, trying to rephrase his next few words in hopes of warning you not to commit any sexual acts with those your age

"...so avoid any, ethnic movement."

And after a few hours of pressed lips you let out a giggle, seeming to understand that much, but you still couldn't comprehend the other announcement. "Levi, why now?" you refocus, watching him hold his afternoon Sanka by the rim of the cup. "Why are you suddenly pairing people together instead of letting us decide? I wasn't expecting the camp's rules to become so strict."

"That's something you can talk to Hange about if you really care that much. She runs the place." With a sip of his drink, his eyelids relax, stepping closer to you in hopes of releasing more stress in the atmosphere, though it only added to your nerves. "Honestly I think this is a great opportunity for you two, These past few years have been rough on him so try easing your way back into the friendship if you can."

You tip your head to his final sentence, extremely curious.

What has Eren been though? Did he suffer?

Was it to the point he couldn’t call back?

"It isn't my place to say" he raises a hand tonrelieve the itch of his collared shirt. "...But the brat hasn't been the same since. The last time I actually saw him smile was with you." and who were you not to trust Levi's words. Their constant bickering was filled with respect, with patience and understanding for each other and their growth. In times of affliction Levi truly became Eren’s backbone.

"I'll try to put up with him, thank you Levi." And with that you were off, descending the stairs of his office, hiking through uncemented trails. Fortunately the sun’s dawning brightness kept your pathway clear, eventually finding yourself at Cabin 107?

The cabin looked larger than before, actually all of them seemed to be remodeled. Still did they hold the same iconic emerald trim on the exterior beam frames, and the blooming bushes of shrub leaves to compliment it. The outskirts of the camp admittedly had the nicest rooms, probably because construction workers lost their energy after redecorating Camp Marceign for so long, at least until they moved across the lake for more space. But it's a bonus on your end you figured. The wooden stair planks wobbled in their place, leading to another creaky door as you dropped your bags inside. You immediately hopped over them, strangling a small blond in your loving arms.

"Y/NNN!"

Falco hugged you back just as tightly, leaning his head into your stomach. "Now I'm sure this summer is going to be the best!" he smiled, beyond thrilled that you were his group’s designated counselor. Taking your bags over to your bunk, right below his just like how he planned, send him another grin, darting over to the other campers waving your welcome, as well as a much taller figure sulking atop his bed with the same demoralizing look he gave you earlier. He notices your arrival and approaches you with a clipboard in hand, holding it out for you as a way to inform he could not care less about the cabin he was counseling, as well as who he’d been assigned to.!Your body doesn't know whether to take it or read off the paper from his hands, so you simply stand in your rising body heat and speak your own mind.

"H-Hello everyone,” You stutter, convinced their looks of uninterest are solely because of you. “I'm Y/n and this is Eren" signaling your hands to the boy beside you. "We're going to be your counselors this summer!" A blond girl nodded kindly, and the olive-skinned boy beside her seemed to feel his face heating at your voice. The brunette girl next to him casually saluted two fingers from her forehead in greetings.

"Heyooo! I'm Gabi. We've all heard lots about you already.”

“You have?”

“For sure, Dalco doesn’t shut up about all the good times he spends with you.”

"Gabi, zip it!" Falco tilts his head down, embarrassed by her brutally honest comments. "Colt and Y/n are really important to me." he whispers, you pout your lip in sweet appreciation, stepping beside him to make him aware- "Falco is just as important to me."

It's enough to pry a shy smile back onto the boy's face, as the other young boy adds, "That makes total sense, I mean you're so pretty." he says, foaming at the mouth. Eren's face scowls in disgust at the child while yours heats up again, buying time for you to thank him when you notice a little gleam in his eyes, one of pure honesty, reliability, and humor. Who would know humor better than-

"You must be Martin, one of Connie's brothers right?" You decipher, leaning your hands over your knees to meet his level. "How'd ya know?" His mouth baffles in shock, turning into a cheesy smile.

"I'm a good guesser-"

"Who's Colt."

You and Martin synchronize your gazes on Eren, who decided to impolitely bring up another conversation. His face contorted in that odd deadpanned expression again, glaring at the little boy, then focusing on you. He prepares for your answer by shrugging his shoulders and plopping down onto his bed across from yours.

"He's Falco's older brother, and my Best friend" you start, seeing his eyebrows furrow in disbelief. He looked disgusted at the fact you had friends, which only irritated you. Eren always found a way to irritate you.

You just weren't expecting to ever get angry because of his irritation.

"Y/n! he screamed, in a total panic at the sight before him. Your were perched by an aging Pine tree, grasping your swollen ankle in one hand, your gushing knee of blood in the other. His veins coursed quicker with every foot, every step he sprinted to reach your disabled body sooner.

"Who did this to you? Tell me, tell me now!" he cried, shaking your upper body in distress, he was overwhelmed, how you looked at him with absolute fear but chose to say nothing. You couldn't even speak, only responding in frightened whimpers. He never thought to be the one that'd make you afraid, not with those sweet eyes of yours. The ones he found the solution to all his problems in.

His own blood smeared across his hairline, flowing down his scalp to the side of his temple, his chest was scarred in burn marks and open wounds, visible to you because of his ripped shirt. He couldn't care less about himself in that moment, hooking an arm under your knees as the other sheltered your head. He was wary of lifting you, careful not to add any excess physical pain to where he grabbed. He pressed your head firmly against his chest, covering your other ear to avoid hearing any more excruciating screams or sirens. It had all been too much to handle.

It was there you finally became irritated with him for the first time in your life, by his impatience, by his will to keep you alive, his passion and how desperate he was to make sure you were ok. You rested your forehead onto his collarbone, closing your eyes for what would become hours of unconsciousness. He upset you so much, by how needy he was to keep you safe, to make you feel better.

But that was then, and this is now.

He was certainly not making you feel better at this moment.

"I'm sorry, am I not allowed to have any friends?" you retort, storming over to confront him. Eren scoffs, leaning forward onto his crossed arms to look up at you.

"I never said that, it's just surprising to know you've moved on so quickly."

"Moved on from what."

"You understand exactly what I'm talking about" he stood, now intimidating you by the inches he gained in height. You look at him, noticing how dark his eyes have shaded. Through the years they've lost their shine, manifesting into depths of dark green.

"Don't act like you're special, Eren. I knew Colt long before I knew you." Was this right? For you to say these things to him?

You continued walking towards him, pushing your shoulders down in an attempt to make you seem tougher when you wanted nothing more than to cave in. Why were you speaking like this, to him? You don’t know what he’d been through, but according to Levi it had been rough at the very least. Here you were speaking before you could even process your thoughts, ultimately fueling his pent up mood. Eren eyes your face, an observable mark creasing between your eyebrows as blood ran to your puffed-out cheeks. He was sure to have gotten on your last nerve, but truly he didn't want to see you snap, nor did he ever. He started in the other direction, hoping you’d both have the chance to cool down. While he advances to his bed, your breaths can still be heard steaming behind him, so he rolls his eyes before searching the space behind him for his luggage.

But to you, his actions simply looked like he had enough, walking away because he never wanted to see you again. If that were true, you could at least finish off the conversation with the truth.

"...and at the very least Colt has the nerves to respond to me when I reach out."

You certainly crossed the line now.

Eren's entire body goes tight, stiffened by how pernicious that had pierced his heart. If anything he was more hurt than upset, but by the words coming from your mouth specifically had he felt his feelings bleed out. He stands to his full height in a flash, whipping his head around, jaw clenching so tight as he drew near you. "Say it again, right to my goddamn face, say it one more time." His face was horrifying, landing just in front of yours. He stabbed his pointer finger into your chest, at your heart to be exact.

"Do it, I dare you."

The gesture is enough to make you flinch, stumbling a step back from his hunched presence. In all your years spent at this camp, no one has ever broken through your personal space without permission, but this was Eren, and somehow you let him, regardless of how dangerous he looked. You both knew you were memorable to eachother, he made you feel different, at least he used to before this stranger took his form.

Eren exhales deeply, turning back around in a silent manner that screamed "That's what I thought.", his symbol of victory in this short-lived battle. You hated to lose, and he was well aware. His strategy? Involving whatever information no one ever told you about. Whatever he wanted to keep from you he’d use against you, hoping the guilt would force you to apologize, though he was on the verge of overflowing the last five years in seconds to you.

The kids could only eye the two of you standing at opposite ends of the room and each other, in what felt like a good few minutes of silence between a few exchanged snickers, Martin sat there smirking. He seemed to be enjoying whatever tension the two of you emitted like it was his source of entertainment. Luckily, a tall female interrupted with a few unauthentic coughs, hoping to ease whatever stress was still airing out.

"I think it's best we figure out a cabin name! What do y'all say?" she asks, a bit timid for any response from her colleagues. You nod your head at her, regaining the best smile you could manage before seating yourself by the small wooden island. "That sounds wonderful... Kaya, was it?" Your voice soothes her, so she send you a smile in return, as Gabi interrupts in an attention-seeking fit.

"Oh! Oh!" She raises both hands in the air. "I've got lots of cool ideas! How about the rogue cabin- no, the revenge cabin!" She grimaces in a devilish glimmer.

"Sure" Eren adds in, exhaling his head up from his phone and Gabi nods, appreciating his response. You're rather appalled at their shared interest of being menaces. "Maybe we should focus on sounding more like an outgoing group? You suggest politely, before glaring at the brunette man across from you "-rather than trying to scare everyone off". Eren kneels back down to his bag, ignoring your request and pulling a few toiletries out for the bathroom.

"That's fair." Gabi starts again, crossing her arms over her chest. "So what about the Coolio Shmoolio Cabin!"

"Gabi, English please."

"It is English, and it makes sense my head, Jaeger," She remarks.

"Don't call me that, I'm your counselor," he advises while entering the bathroom. "What are you 8? That would explain your ignorance."

"I'm twelve, you dickwad."

Eren stops at the doorway, leaning his shoulder into the frame. "What the hell did you just call me? you little-"

"Alright!" you barge in, holding up both arms to separate the two and hopefully avoid a raise in Eren's voice again. "Does anyone else have any input?" Looking at the remaining three children.

Falco steps forward, pulling the young girl back. "What about the scout cabin, or cabin of the scouts?" You think upon it for a second, accepting it as a great consideration. Once again Gabi cuts in, shoving her arm out of Falco's grasp and pointing to her chin.

"Well, personally I think "Warrior" sounds cooler. But that's alright I guess." Falco quickly agrees with her snarky suggestion, a tiny blush spreading across his face. "T- That sounds cool too!"

Martin and Kaya both seem to side with the name as well, giving each other a high-five in agreement. "Then it's settled! I'll inform Levi that we are now officially "The Warrior cabin" you clasp your hands in joy.

"Sounds good to me. Let's hope we can keep the reputation of our name." Eren adds, and you just know he's eyeing the back of your head. He walks towards you again, a sly smile growing onto his face. "It might be tricky for some of us when giving up always sounds like a good solution". He forcefully blows the plastic wrap of his toothpaste into the back of your hair, making your mouth drop in aggravation as you flinch. You spin to meet his face, just inches away from his striking features as your mouth prepares to respond.

"Are they about to kissss?" Martin jokes, referencing a popular Tik Tok audio you know all too well, as the children start dying with laughter. You and Eren back away from each other in embarrassment.

This month was going to be lively, that was for sure.