Ha Ha Ha Ha—No. Nothing's funny about a really, really, really late update. I know and I'm truly, terribly sorry for this. I wouldn't exactly say I have a reason for being absent this long. But, ya know; work, studies, no time—you know where I'm going with this.

Forgive me? *offers cookies*

Chapter 4.

"Shouldn't we be going to bed by now?" Armin wondered aloud, rubbing his waxy chin with a candle as he stared distractingly away in thought. Jean nervously nodded, glancing Levi's way.

"W-well, the Master did order us to do so, Armin. I think we should call this a day an—"

"How big is this castle?" Levi interrupted, hands in his pockets as they strolled about through the empty halls of the sleeping castle. They haven't been wandering for too long, and the object's initial goal was to guide Levi back to his quarters, as ordered by Master Eren.

Their supposed dinner not too long ago failed epically, but even after a rude scold, they all seemed pretty high spirited. Armin still couldn't believe he got to see Levi laugh so freely like that.

Except for Jean, of course, who always appeared anxious over something at all times. Either that, or he's too much of a scaredy cat.

Armin smiled sweetly, turning to his guest. "Ah, this castle is quite big, you see. Even the servants sometimes can easily get lost in a place as huge as this!"

Jean nodded energetically, clearing his throat. "We could give you a small tour, if you'd like!"

Levi's eyebrow twitched, "Oh? That would be lovely." He said, and as they ventured further down, the halls slowly expanded in size, revealing more doors leading to other small, mysterious rooms. Levi silently looked around, amazed by the peculiar interior design of the castle that surrounded most of its halls. Big, weird human-like creatures carved in stone against the old walls, disfigured bodies and odd facial expressions masking their laughing faces.

These decorative.. sculptures reminded Levi of the tall Giants in the recent book he read, with the Shifter and the Captain. Terrifying wide eyes and stretched out grins. As he looked around, Jean had been talking nonstop about the castle's history as he made a speedy tour while they walk. He talked about its Kings and Queens, and brave Soldiers, he talked about Master Eren.

Levi listened of course, about the previous King falling ill, and the Queen passing after giving birth, about strong soldiers protecting the castle gates when the lonely little Prince of the age of nine had not yet known how to rule a Kingdom. Eren had been a parentless prince for far too long, Levi couldn't help but feel a little bit guilty. No wonder he was so bratty.

Jean talked still as Armin hopped beside him, and Levi listened less and less by the second. His attention was completely drawn away when, by the end of the big hall, a grand staircase is revealed, leading up to the West and East Wing. His feet automatically guided him toward the stairs, and the hushed voices of the objects are drowned out by the silence of the castle as they ventured down a different hall alone, unbeknownst that their guest had left them.

Levi didn't care, and his feet didn't hesitate over the first few steps of the stairs, his narrowed eyes carefully scanning around as he climbed higher. Instinctively, he turned toward the West Wing, and a light mystifying wind rushes through the moaning corridors, as if it was welcoming every sound of his footsteps.

"What an odd place," Levi found himself muttering, though there was a dash of excitement as he explored new grounds. He's never been up here before, and even though this area of the castle looked duller than the rest of it, Levi was willing to know what hides behind these shadowy walls of the West Wing.

The halls felt long, and maybe it was the dark that gave it that effect, but Levi suddenly stops by a wide open door at the end of the corridor. The poor door looked severed, as if it was constantly kicked open, almost hanging off its hinges as huge claw marks decorated its frame. Levi gulped mutely, but gathered the courage to move closer, peeking inside discreetly.

He almost gasped at the scene. He immediately knew whose room this was.

The Beast's Lair, huh?

The room was, no doubt, a wrecked mess. As a man against dirt and unsanitary, Levi cringed but felt courageous enough to explore deeper into the room, letting himself in with a calm breath. He passes by a shattered mirror still hanging at an odd angle on the wall, and each of its shards reflect his concerned look. Dust covered the majority of the wide, messy room, and broken pieces of severed furniture lay around like useless garbage. Through the dark it was difficult to see, but there was a balcony with its doors wide open for the moon to cast whatever little bit of light it can through them.

Levi headed toward the balcony, first stopping by a shredded portrait lying uselessly on the dirty floor. He stares intently at it for a moment before deciding to lift and put the shredded pieces together, revealing the picture of the prince, before his monstrous transformation.

"Psh," Levi scoffed at the portrait, "No fucking difference." Still a damn brat.

By the entrance of the balcony, there is where Levi saw it. A floating rose on a pedestal, secured by a bell jar. His eyes widen at the magical red flower, and he approaches it cautiously, as if he'd be badly hurt if he were not careful enough.

The rose beneath the jar shines when he's close enough, and the temptation to run his fingers over the cold glass was too much, he gave in quickly. There was something eerie and beautiful about the rose, Levi knew, and it was no doubt connected to this whole enchanted castle. The pretty rose drew him in, its petals softly fluttering in the jar.

He was about to lift the jar up, but a big sudden shadow covers him whole as someone steps before him, and Levi swiftly jumps back in defense when an angry growl makes its way through the empty ruined room. The Beast had been here this whole time, and Levi inertly curses himself for not realizing it earlier.

As quickly as he could, Eren covers the jar protectively with his hands, claws stretched out and his teeth bared, tail swishing uncontrollably.

"What the fuck are you doing—why are you here!?" he yelled, his green eyes glowing wrathfully. Levi didn't speak, only gritted his teeth as he took a defensive stance in case the beast was ready to pounce. Not that he'd have a good chance of escaping some monster like the Beast.

"You shouldn't have come up here. You're not allowed here!" Eren growled.

"I didn't fucking mean to intrude," Levi spat, but he honestly had no better excuse for almost touching Eren's precious little flower.

"And yet, here you are." Eren sneered, stepping forth and towering over Levi's short frame. With every step he took forward, Levi took backward, alarmed and ready.

"Do you realize what you've done?" Eren roared, hands swiping through broken furniture aggressively, and his scowling expression intimidated Levi, he was actually impressed.

As Eren continued his little tantrum and destroyed more of his furniture, Levi chanced a few more steps back until he reached the exit.

Eren noticed him at the corner of his eye, and with a deep breath, he howls like a wolf.

"Get out! Get the fuck out of my room!"

There was no need to be told twice; Levi runs.

The images of the grinning sculptures haunted his vision as Levi ran past them through the dark lonely halls. His breaths are short and quick, and the sound of his fast beating heart sounded louder than his shoes clicking noisily on the floor. He took a few turns blindly, hoping he'd find the exit of this God forsaken place. On his way, he adjusted his green cloak, pulling the hood over his head as he picked up speed once he found and climbed down the grand staircase.

Down the last steps stood the objects, Armin and Jean, wearing the most worried looks Levi could ever imagine. No doubt, they knew where Levi came from, and it didn't take much for them to realize why Levi was running too.

Levi runs past them, even as Armin spoke.

"S-Sir Levi! Where are you going!" Armin tried to follow, hopping close to Levi.

"Promise or no promise, I can't stay here another minute!" Levi said, still going for the exit that was finally close by.

"Oh no! Wait, p-please!" Jean flailed, his tiny wooden arms trembling while his pendulum shook. But Levi doesn't respond, only exits the castle and slams the door shut, leaving both objects behind to bow their heads down in total sadness.

Levi was surprised to see that Bean hadn't left the castle either, even after so long left isolated under the heavy snow. He should give this horse some credit. But now was not the time to think, and as he mounted his horse, he didn't spend another second waiting. They galloped away from the castle, and Levi doesn't turn back to look, even as he passed through the black, groaning gates.

Fuck this place.

Riding through the forest, Levi felt as though the woods were thicker than before, almost suffocating. The snow was angrier, the winds merciless. It seems that everything is against him today, and Levi couldn't help but curse under his breath.

With every icy breath that escaped his lungs, he encourages Bean to run faster, no matter the route, provided that it lead away from the castle, everything would be okay. He hadn't known how long he'd been riding through the thick white layers of snow. Maybe hours, or just mere seconds—it was hard to think when his fingers, tight around the reins, numb over the leather he gripped onto. He's never felt this cold in his life, never knew that he could get this cold.

They pass by wet patches of grass, and dead trees, dried out bushes and rocky paths, before suddenly, Bean comes to an abrupt stop. The horse's uneasy pacing confuses Levi as he pulled on the reins, trying to get some control back on the animal. Their heavy breaths pounds in Levi's ears when Bean cries out in worry.

"What's going on, Bean?" he asked, patting the side of his jaw as he leaned close. "Why'd you stop?"

It would've taken more than this little run to tire the horse out completely, so it couldn't have been because Bean was exhausted. The horse responds uneasily, shaking its head and pacing backwards. Levi scowls at the reaction and immediately turns his attention to their surroundings.

At first, there was nothing. Nothing but snow covered trees and angry, dark skies. But Levi knew there was more than that. His eyes pierced through the thick snowflakes falling aggressively on the ground, and even though he couldn't see anything marked off as something bad, he could still sense danger. Was it the Beast? Had he followed them all the way here?

With an annoyed click of his tongue, Levi gently pulls the reins again, causing Bean to turn around—

And that's where Levi was mistaken. The Beast wasn't following them. Wolves were.

"Shit," Levi cussed shakily. They were almost completely surrounded by wolves, maybe six or seven, as they emerged from snow, and bushes. Their paws create subtle patterns on their wake as they advance slowly, their big yellow eyes concentrated on their prey while they growled hungrily under the cold.

Before he knew it, they bark loudly in unison, scaring Bean to a point where he bucked hard, throwing Levi off balance and thus falling on the ground beside the horse.

"Damn it, Bean!" Levi didn't respond fast enough, and as his legs gained back their energy to sit up, the wolves had already advance forward, ready to attack the panicking horse. With yet another cuss, Levi stands, quickly kicking off the first wolf he sees to the side, sending it flying to the side. Another was about to bite off Bean's sides, but this time Levi was quicker.

He hastily elbows the wolf's jaw, causing it to shriek and back away. However a third canine ran up from behind and managed to bite off Levi's cloak in the process, sending the man to the ground with an audible thud.

"Ugh!" Levi grunted, instinctively unhooking the cloak around him with quick fingers before the wolf could drag him away along with his cloak. Bean had been running in circles through sheer panic, running over the fourth wolf that had been in his way. Bean cried out, bucking once more.

"Shit, we have to get out of here!" Levi yelled, as if that would've helped Bean to calm down. His lungs burned from exhaustion, and his limbs trembled from the unforgiving cold. His lips were chapped and dry as he felt his fingers tremble at his sides. They surely wouldn't last for too long out here.

If the wolves weren't successful in killing them, the cold would instantly wipe them out.

A strong wind dances over them, pushing Levi back on the ground, who was already too weak to keep himself up. With an effortful arm over his face, he tries to cover from the icy wind, unaware of the daring wolf approaching him with a hunter's gaze. Even if he had seen the wolf, it was already too late to fend for himself. The wolf had the advantage, and Levi cursed out loud.

And just like that, the wolf broke into an aggressive run towards him. Scowling, Levi doesn't even bother to close his eyes, even admitting defeat with a tired sigh.

The wolf jumps gracefully, ready to pounce on his defeated prey—

Only to be sent flying to the side, hitting the nearest tree with a loud crack!

Levi gasped, eyes growing wide in realization. "Eren?" his voice is broken, and the sound of the Beast's name echoes through the woods. Eren appeared out of thin air, roaring dangerously when he literally punched the wolf mid-air.

Levi scrambled back, "What the fuck are you doing here!" he yelled, eyes unfocused on the Beast.

But Eren does not reply as he fought his own battle with the last remaining wolves that dare to attack him all at once. The enemy manages to rip a deep wound on Eren's right arm, and he howls in intense pain as the rest of the wolves bark wrathfully, biting wherever they could reach. They tried to attack at the same spot on his arm, but Eren was quicker, grabbing one of the wolves' nape with a muscled hand and snapping it's front legs with a loud crunch. The wolf cried, desperate to escape death's grip, but the Beast squeezes his hand over its neck before throwing it useless further away, and letting it hit on a rock.

After the violent action, the rest of the wolves scrambled away in fear, crying and howling cowardly.

Levi's breath hitches, calling the Beast's name once more, and yet as Eren approached Levi, he merely collapses on the cold ground. His pure, green eyes despairingly meet with Levi's own, whom are strangely clouded with surprise, and worry.

Before Eren's world faded out, he could hear Levi cursing in mutters.

"Goddamned brat!" Levi hissed, and weakly sat up to calm Bean down, who still looked panicked and fidgety, but not as frightened. His first thought was to hop onto his horse and ride away once more..

But his conscience takes over almost instantly. His teeth catches the flesh of his lower lip in thought, and as he glanced back at the fallen Beast, his fists clench. Eren saved his life. He doesn't deserve to be left alone in the cold with such a wound, Beast or not.

And so with whatever strength he had in him, he manages to hoist the Beast up on Bean, and take him back to the castle.

The objects were surprised, to say the least, about the fact that Levi actually returned back into the castle willingly. When Master Eren had finally woken up, right by the fireplace in his den, he grumpily ignored Levi's questions about why he even went through the trouble of searching for him, or even yet save him. The teapot, Mikasa, shared amused glances with Armin who giggled at little argument between their Master and their guest.

They were in the middle of patching Eren's wounds up, but it was way easier said than done. Eren acted more like a stubborn child, and Levi had no patience over his childish behavior.

Levi held a rag, soaked in warm water given by Mikasa, as he desperately tried to clean Eren's wounds. He scolded the Beast when he noticed Eren literally licking his own wounds like a damn dog, and with a light slap at his shoulder, Levi grunted.

"That is fucking disgusting, you damn brat." He said, bringing the wet rag closer. "Stop fucking doing that, or the wound might get infected."

But the Beast responds with a stubborn shake of his head, shying away from the rag as he covered his wounded arm with his other hand. "No way."

"Just hold still, damn it!" Levi instructs, and as he touches Eren's bloodied arm ever so suddenly with the rag, the Beast roars in pain, causing the objects inside the room to jump back from the sudden outburst.

"That hurts!"

Levi countered, "Shitty brat, if you stop squirming like such a pussy, it wouldn't hurt as much."

"Well, if you hadn't ran away, this wouldn't have happened!" Eren bit back, hissing slightly when Levi rubbed the rag over his hurt arm again.

"I wouldn't have done so if you'd simply get rid of that stick up your ass. You frightened me." He said honestly, and this time his hands were more gentle as he patched up Eren's arm.

Eren was about to say something, but it took him a while to think of something to say. "Well, you shouldn't have been in the West Wing." He grumbled.

"And you should learn how to control that temper of yours, brat." Levi says calmly, his grey eyes still focused on his task. Eren was ready to raise a finger to bring out another point, but quickly realized that he had nothing else to say, and with a defeated sigh, he looked away with a childish frown.

Levi inertly smirked. He had won the argument, and the objects around the both of them smile in realization.

They have finally found someone who has conquered the temper of the Beast!

"Oi, hold still." Levi mumbled, still feeling whatever bit of resistance coming from the Beast. Eren hisses again, already hating the stinging pain shooting through his arm and up his spine. But Levi's hands were warm around his arm, they were comfortable and oddly smooth. Eren couldn't help but relax to the man's touches as the raven took care of his wound.

He gathered his thoughts properly, and with determination, Eren turns and looks back at Levi to say something, yet Levi speaks first.

"By the way," Levi started, glancing up at the Beast, "Thank you, for saving my life."

For a second, Eren had completely forgotten what he'd initially planned to say as he was caught off-guard by those mysterious steel grey eyes. He was surprised, if only for a second.

Although still grumpy, he nodded in response, and his voice was tender as he replied, "You're welcome."

The objects smile at each other as they watch the scene unfold before them, fully knowing that now, there may be something there that wasn't there before.

…

I did promise I'd continue this story, but I still feel bad for updating so late. Please don't hate me! *offers more cookies*

I'll try to update the next chapter by the end of this(or the next) week! Hopefully!

Until then, thanks for reading.