Chapter Text
The cold of the basement was starting to get to Eren. The thick stone walls and floor radiated the harsh temperature day and night. Eren was so grateful that the survey corps were able to take him in so he knew he couldn’t push his luck with asking to be moved so soon. He had only been there for three days, not to mention Levi let him out during the day, never was he allowed to be outside even at twilight. He could eat with the other soldiers at dinner but he was not allowed to stay up longer than Levi, yet the tension made him feel as though he would rather eat by himself in his cell. Eren pushed his head back from his knee to rest on the stone wall behind his bed. The sitting position he had assumed on bed included his knees up to his chest and his shackled hands near his feet but not quite touching. When Eren found out he was to be restrained while he slept it made him visibly upset but Levi suggested that he would probably be allowed to sleep without them soon enough, not that he deserved to.
Eren felt as though he wished to be asleep but the task of relaxing enough to actually do so was too cumbersome at that moment. The darkness allowed Eren to so easily let his eyes glaze over slowly as there was nothing to focus on and slip in to a trance similar to sleep, yet not nearly as relieving. It was the jingle to keys at his cells door that snapped him out of this. He couldn’t tell who it was because of the lack of light not allowing him to make out shapes much less faces. “H-hello?” Eren whispered he knew it would be one of the soldiers but having anyone walk into your room unannounced, even one you’ve only had for three days and are not overly fond of, is kind of off putting.
“Is that really how you want to address your superiors you shitty brat?” The razor sharp tone cut through all of Eren’s confidence like a warm knife through butter.
“Corporal Levi! Sorry, I couldn’t see who it was I apologize.”
“Tch.”
“I-is there something you wanted to talk to me about sir?”
Levi let out a long annoyed sigh. He seemed to be agitated that Eren did not simply understand the nature of his visit. The silence dragged on just too long to make Eren feel very uncomfortable, he was confused as to why Levi was even here in the first place. The reason for the prolonged silence it seemed was that Levi was lighting a small lamp. The seemingly abundant amount of light quickly spread through the room, however in natural lighting or even outside at night the lamp would most likely look dim. The light hit the face of Eren’s superior and made him feel nervous to have him in such close proximity when he is so restrained. It made Eren pull his legs just ever so slightly closer to his body causing Levi to smirk.
“So guess why I am here brat?”
“Ah, to tell me something?” Eren felt a little confused and a lot terrified that he may have done something wrong throughout the day with out remembering, or knowing.
“Heh, close in a way but I’m going to have to say try again.” No change of tone or pitch happened whilst Levi spoke; this never failed to terrify Eren.
“Did I do something wrong.” Eren’s words almost inaudible yet he knew he had to say something and this is all that could come to his mind.
“I won’t say you’ve done something wrong but you might view what I am about to do as a punishment.” With this comment a small spark in Levi’s eye appeared and disappeared in a second.
Eren’s heart started to race a mile a minute. Was it going to hurt? Was this going to be a repetition of the court room again? So many unknowns sped through Eren’s mind he was so scared of what Levi was going to do. Levi lets out a chuckle after assessing Eren’s current facial expression. This did not assure Eren in anyway. As Levi makes his slow steps forward until he is close enough to touch Eren in the centre of the bed, the sound of boot to stone pounds into Eren's mind.
“A-ah Corporal” trying to think how to phrase his words he realizes that he can’t, his nerves won’t allow it. All that comes out is an uncertain and quiet whimper. Levi however still picked up the noise and a smirk crawls across his face before the corners of his mouth retreat back to their seemingly natural downturned position. Levi raises one of his knees before lowering it on to the side of the bed.
“Are you Afraid of me Eren?” Cold eyes boring into Eren’s own miniature turquoise ponds. Eren is unsure of what the correct answer to this query is he takes a few moments to gather his thoughts before carefully answering.
“I respect you Sir.”
“That’s not what I fucking asked you piece of shit. Again, do I scare you?” He certainly did and Eren quickly took in air to reply again eyes wide in panic. This breath how ever did not get to serve its purpose as Levi pulls Eren’s legs from his vertical fetal position to straight across the bed. With this movement it dispels all of the air Eren was saving for words into a short startled yelp. Levi, quite satisfied with this reaction once again stares the young soldier down. Levi then took his other leg off the ground and gently positions it to the side of Eren’s leg as he moved his other to in-between Eren’s knees. From there he reached his arm down to Eren’s chest to hold him in place in case he struggled, but truthfully for Levi, it was more of a power thing.
“Caught on yet?"
Eren had not.