TEN YEARS AGO,

Your father, Erwin Smith, had his thick eyebrows furrowed together. His face was tensed with stress as he worked through a long list of paperwork; his muddled mind kept travelling elsewhere as he struggled to concentrate on his work.

As you sat cross-legged on the wooden floor of his study, your eyes stayed locked onto his screwed up expression. You swayed back and forth, sighing to yourself with boredom.

You called out for your father for the third time in the past ten minutes, but Erwin ignored you once again. You were unsure on whether Erwin wasn't responding on purpose, or not, but the boredom was beginning to get too excruciating to handle.

You pulled yourself up from your father's floor, dusting off the tattered dress that Hange had recently fixed. You slipped out of his office: deciding to venture into the Survey Corps Barracks.

The Survey Corps Barracks was the only home you had ever known; the Scouts were your only family.

Each passing day in the barracks melted into the other, becoming highly boring with no-one to play or talk with; during your early-childhood, you grew to loathe living in the barracks. You were wary of other Soldiers, and frightened at night when the lights were switched off. The absence of a comforting parent only made your experience worse.

Your palm clasped around the crisp wallpaper; the maze-like hallways were barely lit up by the golden sunlight that scattered patterns on the wooden planks below your feet. Your fingers traced the edges of the chipped walls, your eyes slowly fluttering shut as you tried to figure out where your next adventure would lead you to.

Your curiously-wide eyes darted at different objects and people, waving 'hello' at complete strangers. Some Scouts, already knowing who this five year-old girl was, happily waved back and greeted you as you walked past. Others were confused as to who this child was, and why she was in a Soldiers Barracks.

Your eyes slowly ran up the corridor before easing at the sight of an open door - the aroma of fresh broth drifted through the hallway. You curiously sped up your pace, your interest peaked as you almost began to jog closer.

You jumped into the flavourful smelling room, peering at different groups of Scouts enjoying an early lunch.

You greeted some of your father's friends: exchanging a polite 'hello' with Nanaba and Mike.

Your eyes searched the Mess Hall with an innocently bright beam, yearning for something to do. Your pupils halted at the sight of a mysterious man sat in isolation: a man with a cold exterior of whom you did not recognise.

Your head tilted in curiosity.

The man had a glum expression plastered on his pale face, his shadow-coloured eyes blankly staring towards nothingness. He was sat alone on a large table, with nothing around him but a cup of brewed, black tea.

Feeling a friendly instinct to accompany him, you swiftly made your way over towards his table.

"Hello, there!" You exclaimed with a bright smile, watching the unknown man flinch.

His body immediately tensed with unease. His stern face formed a real cringe as he huffed to himself with confusion: "What the hell?"

You extended your hand towards him, "My name is Y/N."

The stranger, unable to find any words, simply stared at you with fixed-surprise as you bashfully waited for him to shake your hand.

"Aren't you a little young to be a Scout?" He scowled: his voice was cold and hostile, reluctant to entertain your attempt at a conversation, "What are you - four? Five?"

"Why are you sat all-alone?"

"Excuse me?" His thin eyebrows knitted together, watching you nervously clasp your hands together behind your back.

"Do you not have any friends?"

"Didn't anyone ever teach you manners, you damn brat?"

The soldiers sunken eyes began to lurk around the Mess Hall, in search of someone who could take you off of his hands. To his surprise, no one else seemed affected by your presence - they acted as though it was the 'norm' to see a child roaming around the Barracks.

"No." He finally replied, still in search of a potential parent: "I don't."

Whilst his mind was elsewhere, you began to heave your body onto the seat opposed to him. You struggled during your climb, and sighed with relief as you finally perched yourself on the bench.

"That's okay," You exclaimed to him as his discomfort only grew, "I don't have any friends, either! Or at least, no friends that aren't friends with my father."

"Your father?" He grew intrigued, leaning in towards you: "And, who might that be?"

"He's the Commander!" Your fists proudly pumped into the air as his curiosities were finally satisfied: "The Commander of the Survey Corps. Just like I'm going to be one day - I'll show the titans who's really in charge."

"Is that so?" He lifted his tea with two fingers, quietly drinking the hot fluid: "Where is Erwin, anyway?"

"In his office, he doesn't know that I left," You pressed your index finger towards your mouth to gesture for him to be quiet, "It's easy to sneak out when he's doing his paper work. He barely even notices me."

He noticed how bright your smile was, and how innocently you spoke; the stranger wasn't used to speaking with people (never-mind a child), and felt unsure on how to interact with you.

"We can be friends," You lowered your tone as pure hope filled your eyes, "Can't we? Oh, please say that you'll be my friend."

"Fine." He finally introduced himself, extended his hand towards you, "My name is Levi."

He wasn't sure why, but he felt remorse. He knew that, even for him, it would be cruel to reject your plead for friendship.

A wide grin bared against your cheeks as you attempted to shake Levi's hand: your hand was only big enough to wrap around three of his fingers, but you still excitedly took the opportunity to make a friend.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Y/N." Levi took pity from you, and admittedly craved the company of another following the deaths of Isobel and Farlan.

A hand playfully ruffled your hair from behind, the charismatic voice of Hange Zoë now lurking in your ears: "Y/N, I've been looking for you everywhere."

"Commander Erwin didn't even notice that you had left until I went into his office and asked where you were." Moblit added, his face riddled in concern as Hange wrapped their arms around your small body: "I'm sorry - your name is Levi, isn't it? I hope she hasn't caused you any trouble."

"Not at all." Levi replied whilst you smiled mischievously at him.

"This is Levi. Levi is my best friend!" You shouted adamantly, gathering the attention of nearby Scouts as he began to regret agreeing to being your 'friend', "Aren't you, Levi? We're just the best of friends. He even said so himself!"

"I never said that." The older man blurted out as Hange softly smiled.

"Are you sure? Y/N seems quite sure of herself." Hange chuckled, watching your smile grow even brighter.

"Leave him alone, Hange." Moblit sighed, taking your hand in an attempt to give Levi some peace: "Thank you for watching, Y/N, Levi. It's appreciated."

"Don't worry about it." The ebony haired man responded in a hoarse voice, feeling his expression soften whilst you dramatically waved 'goodbye', "Stupid kid."