Beyond The Walls (AOT x OC Fanfic)

The Unknown Path Ahead

The days in the infirmary had felt like an eternity for Jeiden. Weeks had passed, and while her physical recovery had gone smoothly, there was a constant cloud of frustration hanging over her. No matter how hard she tried, her memories remained locked away. Each day had been filled with hope that something—*anything*—would return. But it never did.

Hange and Erwin had visited her countless times during those weeks, their faces filled with curiosity and expectation. Each visit came with the same question: *Do you remember anything yet?* And each time, she had been forced to answer the same way: *No.*

It had become a haunting routine, a cycle she couldn't escape. No matter how much she wanted to help them, to answer their questions, she had nothing to give. The only thing she could remember was the boy from her dreams—his face, his soft blue eyes, and the way he had said her name.

*Jeiden.*

That one fragment of her past was all she had, and it wasn't enough to explain who she was or why she had been found outside the walls.

Finally, the day came when the doctors declared her fully recovered and ready to leave the infirmary. The thought of leaving the small, suffocating room should have filled her with excitement, but instead, it left her feeling unsettled. She still had no idea what would become of her, no clear direction for her future. What could she possibly do without knowing anything about herself?

Hange had come by earlier that morning, bringing a Scout uniform for her to wear—something she could borrow until they decided what her next steps would be. Jeiden had never worn anything like it before, but it felt strange as she pulled on the jacket and boots, like she was stepping into a role she didn't fully understand.

The uniform felt heavy with responsibility, even though she wasn't sure if she would ever officially be part of the Scouts. But the feeling of it against her skin was comforting in a way, like it was something she had been destined to wear.

She stood in front of the small mirror in the room, fastening the belt around her waist, when a sharp knock on the door startled her.

Before she could react, the door creaked open, and Levi's head popped in. "You ready? Erwin's—"

He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes widening ever so slightly as they caught on her back. Jeiden froze, her heart slamming against her ribs as she realized what he had seen.

Scars.

The skin on her back was littered with long, jagged scars, some fading into pale lines, others still slightly raised. She hadn't noticed them until recently, and even then, she had avoided looking at them for too long. The sight of them filled her with a deep, unsettling dread—one that made her chest tighten with a fear she didn't fully understand. What had caused those scars? What had happened to her?

For a moment, the two of them stood there, frozen in place. Levi's expression remained unreadable, though there was something in his eyes that flickered—something between concern and curiosity.

Jeiden's face burned with embarrassment and panic. "L-Levi!" she stammered, quickly grabbing the jacket and pulling it over her shoulders to cover herself. "Don't you knock?"

"I did knock," Levi replied, his tone flat, though his eyes didn't waver from hers. "You didn't answer."

Her heart was still pounding, and she could feel her pulse racing in her ears. The thought of him seeing her scars—seeing a part of her that she herself didn't even understand—made her feel vulnerable in a way she hadn't expected.

"Well, next time wait for a response," she snapped, her voice sharper than she intended.

Levi's brow furrowed slightly, but he didn't argue. Instead, he gave her a once-over, making sure she had calmed down before speaking again. "I didn't mean to startle you. Erwin's waiting. You ready?"