Decided to post this here. It's weird but yeah, have at it. Vampire!Levi ahead. I have my own illusions as to how this would work in the canon world, etc.

Disclaimer: Don't Own.

Word Count: 1412

Warnings: Future chapter(s) will contain manga spoilers


Red Secret

Eren wakes to the feeling of being watched. The dungeon is dark, so he can't really see, and as he glances around he knows it's a fruitless endeavor. But the feeling is there; strong and relentless and almost piercing through his skin like a blade. It abruptly disappears after what feel like centuries, when in reality he suspects was mere minutes; no trace of sound, no light to tell him if maybe it'd just been a rodent of some kind, but he's certain it wasn't all in his imagination.

Instead he slides back down into the bed, hears the tell-tale groan of old wood shifting beneath the mattress and his body weight and closes his eyes. The sleep is slightly more restless, but the feeling of being watched doesn't return and he chocks it up to just being his first night in an unfamiliar place.

Eren feels eyes watching as he's doing the yard-work he's been subjected to, but this isn't exactly surprising or mystifying. He's an oddity, he knows that. He can shift into a Titan, for gods' sakes, and that alone pulls attention to him. But he also knows those eyes are of his squad; watching him, waiting for him to fuck up, and that thought is a little bit nerve-wracking, but he doesn't let it get to him. He understands why it has to be done, and he tries to convince himself he's fine with that. He focuses on pulling weeds between the cobblestones to ignore the eyes burning into him from all directions.

The following night the burn of being watched returns. He doesn't bother to try and look for the source because it's too dark and he's probably better off ignoring it; or trying to, at any rate.

More cleaning follows the next day. It's just as boring, of course, because he'd much rather be exploring the area surrounding the castle, since he can't exactly trek out of Wall Rose of his own volition and attempt to slaughter Titans. He'd be put down if he so much as even tried, however, he's sure. He's not exactly alone, they don't trust him, and he's got eyes on his every movement—as if he'd shift into a titan and kill them all, he's not that stupid and besides, that's not what he wants.

They're sitting in the dining hall, discussing the expedition that's coming in a months' time, and Eren's almost worried at the mention of "someone" after mentions of experiments and killing. It's not exactly a thrilling prospect. Add in that seemingly as soon as those words have left the Corporals' lips that the door bangs, has him jumping in his seat. It's the second time he meets Hange; the first being the courts, and now she's asking what Eren's doing tomorrow, if he's free and well, he doesn't have much control over that. Levi's his keeper now, which means he controls what Eren does. She wants him with her for her experiments, and well, he wants to know more. He's not entirely sure what they're going to be doing, after all, and he needs to know.

He doesn't feel like he's being watched that night. No matter; he doesn't realize how much he'd regret asking about Hange's experiments come morning. Even worse—or maybe for the better?—they're interrupted. The Titans were killed.

Does he know who the enemy is?

He's informed that Levi's figured out a way to stop Eren without killing him in his Titan form. He doesn't like the sound of it, exactly; who'd want their arms and legs cut off, even if they knew said appendages grow back? But that doesn't matter because everyone is at risk when he transforms, and he has no say in the matter. He can almost feel a chill go down his spine when Squad Captain Hange speaks, asks if that means she's allowed to experiment and well, he knew it was coming, he supposes.

It's a little weird being down in a dry well, but Eren understands the whole reason behind it. Has to, considering everything was explained before he crawled down inside, waiting for the signal to go ahead and transform. So when he sees the green smoke he bites into his hand and blinks when nothing happens. So he does it again, and again, and again, until his hand is raw and bitten and his face is coated with crimson like some kind of cannibal. "I can't do it," he says despairingly, "I can't transform." And all he can think is why?

When he sees Hange and Levi peeking over the mouth of the well, sees the way eyes widen at how he's bitten through, and he repeats himself, he's ushered up and out. It's actually a bit difficult with his hand the way it is, and the wounds unwilling to heal, but he manages.

What he doesn't expect is the way the Corporal is looking at his hand, pupils blown wide, and staring so pointedly it's startling. It makes him a little uncomfortable, really, but Hange snaps him out of it by blocking the Corporal's view and taking Eren to get his hand bandaged. When he next sees Levi he looks just as disinterested as before, and Eren questions himself if what he'd seen had really just been in his head.

He doesn't notice Corporal Levi disappear for roughly ten minutes.

He lay in bed that night remembering the fear coursing through him when he accidentally transformed because of a goddamn tea spoon. Reflects over Hange's words after dinner that not only did he need to bite his hand to transform, but have a clear cut goal. Feels guilt flicker through his conscious when his squad (Petra, Oluo, Eld, and Gunther) bite their hands in response to learning he hadn't intended to transform, and feels a shy kind of warmth when remembering Petra asking for him to trust them after words. He falls asleep without the feeling of being watched, and doesn't wake up once through the night.

Eren is so damn happy when he sees his friends, sees Armin and Mikasa walking through the courtyard. It all comes to an abrupt halt, however, when he learns that Marco's dead.

He's both nervous and excited about the expedition. It's just a trial, he knows. His life rides on its' success, really. But he can't help it as he waits impatiently on his horse and the excitement bubbles further when the gate opens and Commander Erwin yells for them to move forward.

A bad feeling bubbles in his gut when they enter the large forest. What are they doing? What's going on?

Why aren't we helping them take her down?!

He wants to trust them; trust Corporal Levi. Trust his squad. Decides he will. He has to.

He really wishes he hadn't, in the end.

Eren feels like he's being watched. It's not dark. He's in the dining hall. And the Corporal is with him. It's the same feeling he gets in the dungeon, though, and when he looks up, he sees Levi staring. It's quiet at the moment, but the man speaks up suddenly and wow, he's talking a lot isn't he?

"Don't be stupid. I always talk a lot," the teacup in his hand is set down, he winces at a twinge in his leg, and Eren's curious, really, but the door opens and allows people in. The conversation isn't long, and he doesn't want to believe but he knows the truth.

He goes to bed once they've worked out a plan, and that feeling returns sooner than later, only this time it's accompanied by a light. Levi's standing in his cell, the door unlocked and wide open and Eren inhales softly in his confusion. He's about to voice out his confusion when the light goes out, but he feels fingers gripping his wrist, followed by a soft murmur of, "Be quiet."

Eren jumps at the feeling of what feels like a needle push against his skin, shivers when he feels a tongue lave across the bleeding pinprick just before it starts to mend itself. His gut churns because what on earth?

Eren hears footsteps this time, accompanied by the sound of his cell door being closed, locked shut and a murmur of, "Goodnight brat."

Eren's alone and confused, because why had the Corporal done that? Why had he licked Eren; or rather… his blood?

Sleep is difficult to come by that night.