Chapter Text
Levi watched Eren from across the room. Eren was seated on the couch while Hanji tended to the wounds Levi had inflicted on the boy. Eren had a few cuts and bruises, and winced when Hanji wiped clean a particularly deep scratch, but it looked like Eren was already beginning to heal thanks to his mysterious titan powers. Not that it made Levi feel much better, though he didn't dwell on the look of fury and pain Eren had given him a short time earlier in the courtroom. Levi had done what was necessary to get Eren handed over to the Survey Corps.
He watched as Hanji stood up and Erwin crossed the room to kneel in front of Eren, offering both an apology and explanation. Levi had been planning on remaining across the room from the kid, doubting Eren would want to be anywhere near Levi again, but he didn't fight it when he felt an urge to move closer. As Eren shook hands with Erwin, Levi sat heavily on the couch. There was some space between them but Levi's arm crossed the back of the couch, his hand close to Eren's head, and it was obvious when Eren flinched.
"Hey, Eren..." Levi began and waited for Eren's response before continuing. "Do you resent me?"
"N-no, I understand why it was necessary." Eren looked away and held his arms close to his chest defensively, though he didn't make an effort to move away from Levi or his arm.
"That's good," Levi said simply, because that wasn't the response he had been expecting. Hanji chided him then, saying he had gone too far and producing the tooth Levi had knocked free. Eren's look was startled even as they spoke about the tooth being an important sample. Levi felt the urge to speak again. "Eren, it's still better than getting dissected by people like Hanji, right?" Why did he want to hear Eren say that it was alright, that he forgave Levi? Why did Levi care?
He ignored the fact that Eren gave him no response and the resulting twist in his gut. Levi showed nothing on his face as he calmly leaned forward, inspecting Eren's face along with everyone else as Hanji discovered that Eren's tooth had already grown back. Why didn't that make Levi feel better?
"Just rest for now," Erwin told Eren. "We'll be staying here tonight and heading to HQ tomorrow morning."
Eren leaned forward slightly, eyes wide. "Don't I have to stay in the dungeon again?"
"Don't tell me you like it down there," Levi drawled, unsure of why Eren would bring the dungeon up.
"Of course not," Eren said, glancing over to Levi hesitantly. "It was really cold down there, and I missed seeing the sun. But if I'm less of a threat when kept down there then that's where I should stay."
Levi was impressed. Not many were so self-sacrificing for the general wellbeing of others. Still, he wasn't going to say anything and it was Erwin who responded. "We want to keep you away from any potential fanatics who think they should make a rash move before you're taken out of the city. Just stay here. Levi will keep an eye on you."
Levi didn't argue; he knew this was his new responsibility. He had to nullify any threat to or from Eren. "We'll find some food," Hanji offered, tucking Eren's lost tooth into zher pocket and ignoring Levi's grimace. "Just relax."
Everyone else emptied out of the room and Levi was left alone with Eren. The silence between them was uncomfortable, which was odd because Levi didn't usually feel obligated to start a conversation. He didn't know what to say though, and certainly wasn't going to ask blatantly for forgiveness for hurting Eren when his actions were already justified. Levi just remained silent and watched Eren out of the corner of his eye as the boy hugged himself defensively and his eyes drooped with exhaustion.
After only a few minutes Eren's eyes slid closed fully and his head tilted back as Eren began to drift off to sleep. The moment that the back of Eren's head nudged against Levi's inner arm, Levi felt his heart skip as though he had been given an electric shock. He pulled his arm away immediately but that just jostled Eren and caused him to slide sideways until he was sprawled across the length of the couch, his head resting on Levi's thigh.
This had to be bad for his health somehow, judging by the frantic stutter of Levi's heart in his chest. He was about to shove Eren away and stand up when the door opened and Hanji stepped in, holding a tray of food and looking them over. "Oh good, he's asleep," Hanji whispered when zhe noticed that Eren was dead to the world. "I was so worried he wouldn't get a chance to rest."
"I'm moving him," Levi bit out. He refused to confess to the racing of his heart, or show how flustered he felt, but that didn't mean he was going to put up with this. "I'm not a fucking pillow."
"No!" Hanji hissed. "Just leave him. We need him healthy."
"You be the pillow then!" Levi hissed back. Why was he actively talking quietly when he shouldn't give a shit if the kid got any sleep or not?
"Jostling him will just wake him up," Hanji reasoned. "And clearly he feels safe with you."
Levi looked down at Eren then, studying his sleeping face. It was obvious that he looked relaxed and at peace, but Levi didn't understand it. How could Eren feel safe curled up next to him when Levi had just beaten the living shit out of him? Regardless, this argument was getting him nowhere and if he put up more of a fuss it might become obvious how uncomfortable he really was. He didn't need Hanji realizing that Levi was feeling out-of-sorts and deciding it needed further study.
"Fine."
Hanji's grin was blinding. Zhe handed him a sandwich from the tray and took another one zherself as zhe grabbed a chair from across the room and moved it closer to sit in front of the couch. For the most part Hanji talked to zherself, working through the hypotheses zhe wanted to test once they got Eren to HQ. Levi listened and purposefully didn't acknowledge the flare of...something in his chest when he watched Hanji ruffle Eren's hair as he slept on.
"He certainly sleeps deeply," Hanji mused quietly.
"And you wouldn't let me move him," Levi pointed out coolly.
Hanji chuckled quietly. "I was wrong about him waking up. You can probably move now if you really want."
Levi pursed his lips and looked away to the window. "Whatever. I have to stay here anyway and the couch is comfiest. What?" he asked when he noticed Hanji studying him.
"Nothing," zhe said, though Levi knew it was a lie. He had seen the look in zher eyes enough times to know when zhe had thought of a new hypothesis to test. Still, he was relieved when Hanji said nothing else on the matter. The silence spanned out between them but this time it felt comfortable and Levi was content to just lean back against the couch and occasionally watch Eren or the city beyond the window.
After a while Hanji bid zher farewell after grabbing a book for Levi to read at his request. Hanji left the final sandwich on the tray for when Eren woke up and told Levi that there was a guard posted outside in case they needed anything. Hanji promised to be back at midnight for the night watch and then slipped out of the room, leaving Levi alone with Eren again.
When he was certain they were alone Levi lightly brushed Eren's hair from his eyes. This left the fading bruises from Levi's attack more visible and Levi traced them with needling discomfort. It had been necessary, but not something Levi had enjoyed doing. Eventually Levi pulled his hand away and focused fully on the book Hanji had brought him, letting the hours slip away as Eren continued to sleep contently against his thigh.
Late into the evening, about an hour before Hanji would arrive for zher watch duty, Levi finally had to stand from the couch to go to the bathroom and stretch out his stiff body. He moved Eren as gently as he could but the kid's eyes still blinked open to stare at him blurrily as Levi stood up. "What time is it?" Eren mumbled, rubbing at his eyes.
"Late," Levi said. "There's a sandwich over there if you want."
Eren rolled over to look at the sandwich on the tray and then groaned as he slowly stood up. Levi couldn't tell how much was tiredness and how much was lingering pain from Levi's most brutal kicks, and although he thought about it, he didn't offer a helping hand. "The bathroom would be a good start," Eren admitted, stretching languidly.
Without a word Levi nodded and headed to the door, allowing Eren to follow at his side. They took turns and then headed back to the room, Eren munching on the sandwich while Levi walked around the room a few times to stretch his muscles before returning to the couch. Although he would technically be able to go find a bed once Hanji arrived for zher shift, Levi had already decided he would spend the night on the couch. Between having minimal security on Eren outside of the dungeon and the high tensions in the city, he wanted to be close at hand.
"Hey, Captain?" Eren spoke hesitantly, perhaps worried about angering Levi as he leaned back against the couch with his eyes closed. Levi grunted to indicate that he should continue. "Thank you."
This time Levi's eyes flashed open as he regarded Eren in the near-darkness. "For what? Don't tell me you're a masochist, kid. I don't want to hear that shit."
"I didn't enjoy it," Eren countered. "But what you did in the courtroom saved my life. And it's not like I imagined it happening this way, but it helped me get into the Survey Corps to fight back against the titans. So yeah...thanks."
Levi said nothing; he would never be glad that he did what he did. There were many things he wished he never would've been forced to do, but in times of war certain actions were sometimes unavoidable. He ignored Eren and rested his head back against the couch, wishing that Hanji would arrive early. Levi was exhausted and knew they had a long ride to the old castle tomorrow. Thankfully Eren seemed to realize that it was the time to be quiet and said nothing as he finished his food.
Hanji popped zher head in when zhe arrived, greeting them both with hushed tones and a warm smile. "You can sleep now if you want, Levi," Hanji told him as zhe sat at the table in the corner with Eren. "I have a few questions for our new friend since he still looks somewhat awake." Levi watched Eren nod in agreement and shrugged, not interested in arguing the matter if it meant he could finally rest. He leaned back against the couch again and closed his eyes, listening to the quiet drone of the two chatting until the voices faded fully from his consciousness.
#
Levi blinked his eyes open slowly and felt his mood immediately plummet. "Why are you watching me sleep?" he grumbled at Hanji who was practically leaning over the couch staring at him. "And why are you so close?" he could practically feel zher breath ruffling his hair.
Hanji's eyes were wide as though zhe had discovered a new species. "I've never seen you like this before," zhe hummed.
"Like what?" Levi frowned. More than once the Survey Corps had camped outside together on an expedition, everyone sleeping close together around a fire. There was no way Hanji had never seen him sleeping before, and it certainly didn't warrant zher standing this close.
He pushed Hanji back slightly but zhe were already grinning. "You have a friend," zhe informed him proudly before zher eyes darted down. Levi glanced down as well and only then realized why he felt so warm despite not having any blankets on. While he had slouched against the corner of the couch, Eren had taken up the rest of the couch and his head was again resting on Levi's thigh.
How did this happen? Why had it happened? Levi was already asleep by the time Eren must have gone to sleep, and sharing the couch was one thing. But curling up the way he was? What had possessed him? Did he fall into this position or had he chosen it? Before Levi's heart could begin that stupid fluttering again Levi stood up quickly and deposited Eren on the hardwood floor with a thump and a following groan.
"What was that for?" Eren rolled over and rubbed the back of his head, blinking up at both of them.
"For snuggling up with a stranger who just beat the crap out of you," Levi snapped, unable to explain why he was quite so agitated. "Make better life choices, Jaeger," he ordered and then left the room swiftly, leaving Hanji to deal with the kid.
#
It wasn't until they were getting ready to depart that Levi saw Eren again. He had spent the morning grabbing a quick plate of food and then talking to his new Special Operations Squad consisting of Erd, Petra, Auruo and Gunter. Levi had taken a lot of time carefully selecting all of them to take part in helping him protect Eren from any titan once they went beyond the wall. He had worked with all four of them before and knew they were skilled both individually and together, and hoped that their team of five would be a successful one.
They gathered outside by the stables along with Erwin and the other Survey Corps members that would accompany them to HQ. Levi took a few seconds to briefly introduce Eren to his squad and vice versa before walking his horse over to Erwin to confirm a few details they had discussed before Eren had been relinquished to their protection.
Finally the all-clear was shouted and everyone began to lead their horses through the cobblestone streets towards the main road that would take them out of the city. Levi held back as Erwin led and looked around to find his squad surrounding a horse with no rider. Levi pulled himself up into his horse's saddle quickly and trotted over, somehow not surprised when he saw that Eren was the only one who wasn't yet on his horse.
"Problem?" Levi raised an eyebrow.
Eren saw him and wilted. "Sorry, sir. I've just never been that good at getting on a horse. It's hard to get up into the saddle when the horse is so tall."
Levi blinked once, twice, and then slid from his saddle. Erd, Petra, Auruo and Gunter were all around them on their horses, watching but remaining silent. Levi stood right in front of Eren, who had a good three inches on his height. "You're telling me that if we were beyond the walls, all of us would be dead right now because you can't get on a horse?" Eren blushed and opened his mouth but Levi wasn't in the mood to listen to more babbling. "Jaeger, get on that fucking horse."
Eren's mouth snapped closed and Levi stepped aside as Eren approached the horse. He was glad to see at least a look of determination on Eren's face; he knew Eren was someone who would work incessantly to improve upon his flaws, and that was the sort of person they needed on their side. Levi wasn't angry per se, but he was concerned. He wouldn't allow an oversight that could get any member of his squad hurt or killed, and that included an incompetency within his group. So he made a mental note to work with Eren on his horse-riding skills once they reached HQ but for now left Eren to squirm under their expectant gazes.
Eren got his foot hooked into the stirrup and Levi was about to walk back to his own horse, assuming Eren was fine, but then Eren lost his balance and fell backwards. He fell against Levi who caught him – barely – and kept Eren from smacking his head on the cobblestone. Levi managed to hold Eren up until Eren finally got his foot free of the stirrup and they both regained their balance. By now Eren's face was bright red and Levi pushed him away before his own face could be similarly embarrassing.
Before Levi or anyone else got a chance to say anything, Eren moved back to the horse, intent on trying again. Without saying anything, Levi hovered behind him. Despite wanting to make his first point that they were only as strong as their weakest member, there was another point that was more important to make: they were a team. They would work together and never leave a member behind. Eren got his foot in the stirrup and this time Levi offered a steadying hand as Eren pulled himself up into the saddle.
As soon as he was certain that Eren was settled Levi walked back to his own horse and pulled himself up swiftly. He could feel everyone's gaze on him, Eren's the heaviest, but he looked ahead towards the road that was already empty; they had some catching up to do. "Time to go," he called back to his squad and pushed his horse into a canter, following the path he had already discussed with Erwin that morning. Once they caught up with the group Levi fell behind, watching the back of the group. Eren glanced back at him more than once but the squad kept him occupied with chatter and Levi could keep his distance.
The ride to the old castle was a long one and they didn't arrive until the afternoon with the sun high in the sky. Everyone dismounted and got the horses organized in the stables before heading towards the supply carts; it would take the rest of the day just to unpack and store everything, let alone clean the castle to make it suitable for living in. Levi sent the rest of his squad ahead but remained in the stables, taking extra time to untack his horse.
Once he had the stables to himself Levi leaned back against the wall and breathed deeply for a few minutes. He didn't understand why he was reacting so strongly to Eren's presence and touch but he didn't like it. The way his heart skipped beats and his thoughts got muddled was distracting and could be dangerous if they were beyond the wall. He just had to maintain control and avoid any unnecessary contact with Eren, which sounded stupid since he was just some bratty kid, but Levi wouldn't allow any weakness.
"Captain?" a voice that was already becoming familiar called to him from a short distance away. Levi refused to hide so he popped his head out and looked down the aisle. Eren spotted him and gave a hesitant smile as he jogged closer. Levi crossed his arms and remained where he was, keeping his distance as Eren stopped in front of him and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Captain, about earlier—"
"I don't want you to apologize," Levi cut him off. "And I don't want you to say 'thank you' either." Eren's eyebrows furrowed with confusion and he shifted his weight from one foot to the other, looking uncertain. Levi elaborated. "We all have weaknesses we must overcome. As long as you're willing to put in that effort to keep you and your team safe, you don't need to apologize. As for when I helped you, I want you to realize that we're a team; we all rely on each other. Just don't fuck it up."
The tips of Eren's ears were pink but he was grinning. "Yes, sir. Thank you."
"I told you not to thank me," Levi walked past him, ensuring at there was no physical contact between them. "Today you're helping to clean and restock the castle. Tomorrow we're going to practice mounting a horse until you can do it in your sleep." Before he heard any response from Eren, Levi exited the stables and headed into the castle.
#
Levi was cleaning one of the rooms on the second floor of the castle alongside Petra when Eren stepped into the room, pulling a handkerchief down from his mouth. "We're done cleaning the upper floors," Eren informed him, stepping closer as Levi turned away from the window. "Where will I get to sleep in the building, sir?"
Levi pulled down his own handkerchief, freeing his mouth to speak. "Your room is in the basement."
He noticed Eren's face falling slightly. "In the basement again, sir?"
"Of course. You're not in complete control of yourself yet," Levi turned to face Eren fully and stepped closer."If you drifted off and turned into a titan, at least if you're underground we can restrain you right away. That was one of the conditions agreed upon for us to get custody of you. It's a rule that we must follow." Eren's green eyes widened slightly but he didn't argue. There was nothing Levi could say to make it better; it was an unfortunate situation but not one they could change. The silence was awkward, especially with Petra listening in, so Levi decided it was time to leave."I'll take a look around the rooms. You do this room, Eren."
"Yes, sir," Eren said as he watched Levi pass.
Levi was intent on getting as far away as possible. When he agreed to be responsible for Eren he hadn't expected to see the kid quite this much, nor had he expected Eren's presence to leave him uncomfortable. He was halfway around the corner when Petra's voice caught his attention, and Levi's steps slowed to a stop as he listened in."You've got quite a despairing look on your face, Eren." Why did Eren have a despairing look?
"I do?"
"Ah, I'll be calling you Eren. Captain Levi does the same. Here, his word is the law."
"Right, I don't mind that, but did I really have a despairing look on my face?"
"It's not surprising at all. He doesn't come across as the perfect, invulnerable hero people think he is, does he? The true Levi is surprisingly short, irritable, violent, and hard to approach."
Levi told himself to leave then. He had been pleased to hear that Eren didn't mind that Levi called him just by his first name, but he didn't want to hear people talk about him like this. He heard it enough already; he knew how people saw him. It made it easier to stay detached and get his job done, but people's perceptions still weren't enjoyable to hear. But Eren spoke again and somehow managed to keep Levi hidden in place. "That's not it..."
He continued to listen as Petra told Eren a tiny bit about Levi's past, trying to understand why he didn't mind Eren hearing this. However, finally he stepped back into the room to break up the conversation. "Hey, Eren!"
"Yes, sir?"Eren tensed immediately, standing tall and stiff at attention while Petra looked away and tried to sweep inconspicuously.
"It's not good at all. Redo it all from scratch," Levi ordered, face hardened to ensure they couldn't read any emotion on his face. Eren raced out immediately and Levi shooed Petra out shortly after, breathing a sigh of relief when he finally had the room to himself to clean. He just needed to be alone for a while, and away from the boy that flustered him without even realizing what he was doing.
#
In the evening after dinner Levi led Eren down the staircase to the basement. The food storage and common areas for eating and relaxing were on the main floor, with Eren sleeping in the basement and everyone else sleeping on the upper floors. Levi pushed open a heavy wooden door at the bottom of the stairs and led Eren into a large room. There was a wide bed set up in the corner, a mostly-empty bookshelf, a table with three chairs, and a few lanterns strewn about.
“Home sweet home,” Eren chuckled tiredly, moving further into the room to set his armful of blankets on the table. A plume of dust burst into the air and Eren coughed, which turned into a chuckle a moment later. “Ah well, at least this place isn’t damp like the dungeons back in the city.”
Levi pulled his handkerchief back up to cover his mouth as the dust slowly settled. He wielded a duster and broom in one hand and a bucket of water and a sponge in the other. “We’ll get it clean,” he said, and set the bucket down. Levi proceeded to knock the dust from every surface and then sweep it up on the floor while Eren worked on scrubbing away any creeping mould or dirt. The mattress on the bed smelled a bit musty but seemed dry and clean.
After about an hour they were both done and Eren grabbed the handful of blankets to begin making the bed. Levi was about to say goodnight when Eren called after him, catching his attention. “Where will you be sleeping, sir?”
Why was Levi’s stomach twisting into knots? “Did you notice that door halfway down the last flight of stairs?” Eren nodded. “That’s where I’ll be staying. I wouldn’t be any use watching over you if I’m halfway across the castle.”
“So you’re stuck down here too, eh?” Eren gave him a slight grimace.
Levi shrugged lightly. “I don’t care as long as it’s quiet and I can sleep. Speaking of, I’m going to finish cleaning my own room and pass out.”
“Goodnight, Captain. It’ll be nice knowing someone is nearby,” Eren smiled at him until Levi exited and pulled the door closed behind him.
#
“What’s the matter, Eren? Decide you didn’t care enough to practice riding a horse?” Levi kicked Eren’s boot when he saw that Eren was seated against the stable doors with his eyes closed rather than tacking up his horse as ordered.
“No, sir!” Eren jolted awake and stood in a rush, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “I’m sorry, sir. I just didn’t sleep well last night. At all, actually.”
Levi walked past him into the stall for Eren’s horse, noting that Eren had actually tacked his horse; he just hadn’t begun to practice. “Room not good enough for you?” Levi snipped as he led Eren’s horse out into the large aisle of the stable.
“It’s not that,” Eren yawned widely as he walked to stand beside Levi and stretched. “Normally I can sleep anywhere. But last night I just lay there all night staring at the ceiling. I don’t know, maybe it was too cold or something.”
Levi grunted noncommittally. “Well I didn’t sleep either so let’s just get this over with. Get on the horse.” Eren rubbed at his eyes one last time and then shook his tiredness off, looking more awake as he slipped his foot into the stirrup. Once again Eren nearly landed on his head but this time Levi was prepared, his arms out to steady Eren until he regained his balance. Like yesterday Levi offered a hand for added support when Eren pulled himself into the saddle again. He barely gave Eren time to grin down at him proudly from the saddle before Levi ordered, “Okay, now off.”Eren didn’t argue as he removed himself from the saddle and returned to standing beside Levi. Eren was still grinning and Levi watched him coolly. “Back up.”
They repeated the process ten times with Eren getting in and out of the saddle with Levi’s hand for support. Then Levi held his hands behind his back, making it clear that Eren was on his own. Eren bit his lip and took his time getting his foot in the stirrup. Levi was preparing to catch him again but was pleasantly surprised when Eren slowly but steadily hoisted himself up into the saddle. This time when Eren beamed at him Levi was willing to offer a nod of approval.
Levi continued to have Eren get in and out of the saddle until Eren's movements were fluid and confident. Then, before Eren pulled himself up again, Levi nudged him around to the other side of the horse. Finally Eren groaned and leaned against the horse, his body sagging. "Why do I need to practice this side too?"
"Are you going to tell me that if there was a titan on the right side of your horse, you would put yourself directly in danger just because you only bothered practicing to mount on one side?" Levi drawled.
Eren blushed and groaned again, but gave no other complaint. Eren was even wobblier getting up on the left side of the horse but Levi was there, nudging him up the first few times until Eren's muscle memory began to kick in. By the time Levi was satisfied it had been about an hour, and Levi looked down the aisle to where he knew his horse was being kept. "How's your riding? Can you launch your Manoeuvre Gear from a horse?"
"My riding is good," Eren said, "But I've never had to launch from a horse before."
Levi could feel exhaustion tugging at his limbs but it was easier to ignore when he was out here in the sun, focusing on getting Eren in shape. "Go get us some canisters for our gear while I tack my horse," Levi ordered. By the time Eren returned Levi had both horses out in the courtyard and ready. They strapped up and pulled themselves into the saddles before heading out through the front gate towards the forest.
For the first launch Levi had them stop a short distance into the forest, their horses munching on the grass as Levi offered some tips. Although the majority of working with Manoeuvre Gear relied on intuition, there were still a few things he had learned over the years that could help. When Eren was ready Levi sent him up into the trees, and unlike when Eren had been getting in and out of the saddle like a shaky newborn, this came naturally to him.
While practice could never hurt, Levi was willing to admit – if only to himself – that he had Eren out in the forest practicing for so long at least partially just to watch him. He found it relieving to watch Eren fly through the branches and noticeably improve even in the time they were out there. Levi had been sceptical at first when people called Eren humanity's new hope, and it was true that Eren still had a long way to go both with his human and titan abilities. But as Levi watched Eren, he felt a slow-burning desire to see this kid survive and grow up, for all of them to finally find an end to this war and suffering.
After another hour of practice for Eren to launch from a horse, both at a standstill and in motion, Levi finally called Eren in and together they headed back to the castle for a late lunch. They untacked their horses together and then Levi ordered Eren to more cleaning and a nap in the afternoon, worried that neither of them would perform well if they didn't get some sleep. Levi spent some time with Erwin and then fell into his own bed, intent on getting some sleep before dinner.
Except that sleep never came for him. Levi curled up in his blankets for a long time staring up at the ceiling, trying to shut his brain off. Many times his thoughts returned to Eren, or his squad or the situation of the walls and the titans beyond them. But even when his mind was completely blank, his eyes stinging with tiredness, he couldn't drift away.
Eventually Levi gave up and headed upstairs. Maybe Eren's guess had been right; it was a little chilly down in the basement. He found a crate filled with extra blankets and grabbed two at first, paused, and then returned to grab two more. Levi dumped two of them at the foot of his bed and then continued further down the stairs to step into Eren's room. He was a little startled to find Eren curled up in bed but didn't show a reaction as Eren glanced over at him and sat up in bed. "Captain? Is everything okay?"
"Everything's fine," Levi stepped closer and dropped the blankets on Eren's covered legs. "Go back to sleep."
Eren snorted and then sighed as he flopped back against the pillows. "I wish."
Levi hesitated for a second before he headed for the door and closed it behind him. He bypassed his own bedroom in search of Hanji, who he found in the back courtyard setting up an area for the two titans they had captured that would be brought to HQ within the week. "Hanji, a word?" he called across the courtyard to catch zher attention.
Zhe jogged over, energetic as always, and matched Levi's pace as he walked towards the outer castle wall where they wouldn't be overheard. "What's on your mind?" Hanji prompted him when Levi leaned against the wall but said nothing.
Levi briefly considered changing his mind and simply walking away; just by bringing this up he was admitting that he had been thinking about it. But still, while he didn't necessarily trust Hanji to not turn everything into an experiment, he did trust zher belief in confidentiality. "Back in the city, how did Eren end up sleeping on me?" Both of zher eyebrows shot into zher hairline and Levi immediately regretted asking the question.
He worried zhe would ask about his motivations, but instead zhe just tapped a finger against zher lips and then smiled. "Well, when we were done talking Eren went over to the couch to sleep. I don't think he accidentally fell with his head on your thigh, if that's what you're asking." Zhe leaned in closer. "Is that what you're asking?"
"I don't understand why he would curl up that close," Levi admitted, feeling distinctly uncomfortable.
"I already told you," Hanji nudged his shoulder. "He feels safe with you. After you fell asleep he was telling me how, a few years ago, he would stand in the streets and watch you pass by with the Survey Corps. He admires you."
"Great," Levi sighed. "His childhood hero beat the shit out of him."
"He obviously doesn't hold it against you," Hanji shot back quickly. "He knows you will do what's necessary to keep everyone safe. It's probably why he trusts you. You'll keep him safe but you'll also protect everyone else from him if he ever loses control."
"How do you know all this?" Levi studied zher.
"Eren and I had a good chat," Hanji said, studying him in return. "What I'm wondering is why you're asking."
Levi crossed his arms and looked away. Hanji didn't push him to answer, which he was grateful for. But as uncomfortable as he was bringing this up, he also hoped that Hanji might have an answer for him. "I slept so well on that couch, and Eren seemed to as well," Levi forced himself to speak. "And since then sleep has eluded us both. It's probably nothing, but we both need sleep."
Hanji shrugged. "Then sleep with him again."
To Levi's horror he felt his cheeks warm. "I'm not going to sleep with him!"
"You know what I mean," Hanji rolled zher eyes. "I'm not sure why you're so defensive all of a sudden. I've never seen you this riled up before. Are you sure there isn't something else you want to talk about?" Levi had already turned on his heel and was beginning to walk back across the courtyard. Hanji's voice followed him. "It can't hurt to try!"
How foolish zhe was, despite being so intelligent. Levi was already teetering on the edge of something he didn't understand, that had him uncertain for the first time since a long time before he joined the Survey Corps. It all revolved around Eren and Levi could think of nothing worse for their entire team than him giving in to this mysterious temptation. So he would fight it, and continue on as normal.