Halcyon Days

Scars

"Tell me again, Jaeger," Jean says, a nerve jumping in his throat, "Why am I here at goddamn five in the morning? Give me one good reason why I shouldn't whip your sorry titan ass into the middle of next week."

"He is your superior as well, so it makes sense that you help me!"

"Was, Jaeger. He was my superior! I mean, he's a kid now! I don't see why I need to do this!"

"Oh, just shut up and help me, horseface," Eren groans while tightening a white bandana around his face, "This place has to be completely foolproof before Levi is discharged. So get your lazy horse butt into gear and obliterate any speck of dust you see."

Although Jean complains and complains, he does finally give in.

"You owe me, Eren. You owe me for life," grumbles Jean as he pulls on a pair of latex gloves before rummaging through the bags of cleaning supplies stacked on top of Eren's old coffee table.

Just yesterday Eren received a notice from Levi's doctor, stating that he was to be released in a week's time. Throughout Levi's stay at the hospital, Eren had faithfully visited him everyday, sometimes leaving early from work just to get a few more extra minutes with the small child.

Eren had to be in the same room before Levi allowed any doctor or nurse to touch him. Once, when Eren was running late, his doctor had decided to proceed without preamble. Suffice to say, Levi went ballistic and almost took the doctor's arm off when the man tried to touch him. Ever since then Eren had specifically requested that no-one was to handle Levi without his permission unless it was a life-threatening situation.

But this was understandable, given the extent of Levi physical and mental trauma. The doctor had explained just how severe Levi's injuries were. There were many old scars and healed bones that were there long before Levi was sent to the orphanage. The newer cuts and scrapes were definitely from during his time in that hellhole, but it was the older injuries that really shocked Eren.

The number of healed bones and stitches Levi received in the past was not normal, and according to the doctor, they were very badly healed. This meant that whoever performed first-aid on Levi in the past had no clue what they were doing. It was because of this serious information uncovered that Eren's custody of Levi was placed on hold as police investigated the matter. Again, Kiara had to intervene to stop more paperwork from flooding Eren desk and driving the man closer to breaking point.

After receiving the news regarding Levi's release, Eren had closed the kindergarten and promptly taken a day off work, before heading down to the nearest convenience store. That day he spent well over a hundred dollars on bleach, wax, sponges, scrubs, latex gloves, hand sanitisers, and soap. Oh yes, bottles and bottles of honey and milk hand soap.

Mikasa was on a college excursion, so Eren had to recruit Jean to help him with straightening out his apartment for Levi's arrival.

As Eren wipes down his bookshelf with a dab of sweet-smelling lavender-water, he looks around his smallish apartment. Eren isn't a very messy person, and compared to Jean's hovel, his home is immaculate. But remembering how the Corporal of the past checks even the windowsills and could pick out the smallest smudge of dirt... Eren shivers. No, everything needs to be perfect.

Eren can hear Jean grunting in his bedroom as he hauls a brand new futon into place. Eren had specifically purchased a new futon a week prior and had it washed again just to get rid of the 'new' smell that stuck to the cotton. He had also taken the liberty to buy some clothes and toiletries as well, but Mikasa had caught sight of them when she visited the day before her excursion and shook her head.

Eren may be an expert with handling children, but he truly sucked at choosing the best products. After all, Hanako sensei was the one who shopped for the kindergarten. Eren never really put much thought into what he bought as long as they were safe for kids to use.