Hello everyone! This is my first fanfiction in many, many years! Please be kind, and I hope you enjoy and review!

Eren Jaeger stared at the ceiling of his tiny cell below the courthouse. Although he had been accepted as a new recruit of the Recon Corps, they simply did not have another empty bed for the boy. This was probably due to the fact that many of the higher ups in charge of the military budget didn't take the Recon Corps seriously. Sure, they had done great things in past; going beyond the walls to defend the last bastion of humanity, for example. However, the men in charge could see the Recon Corps for what it really was; a ragtag group of weirdos.

He had actually become accustomed to the tiny cell. The fact that he was no longer bound in chains and the cell door was left open, unguarded, made it kind of cozy in a way. It was his space, no one else's. He hadn't had a bed to himself since his childhood. Since then he'd either ended up sharing a bed with Armin or a bunk in a room full of men in the barracks.

Eren sighed. How did he end up here again? Oh yeah, he'd finished blocking the hole in the wall when he'd finally exhausted his titan form and fallen unconscious. After that all he could remember was waking up chained to the bed in his tiny cell.

He supposed he should be happy with the way things had turned out. The trial had been in his favor and he'd been granted the wish he'd held dear since childhood; to join the Recon Corps. He should be glad he wasn't dead after that madman had pulled a gun on him in the middle of the trial. He'd really expected to have his brains paint the floor of the courtroom while the crowd looked on in horror. He'd never expected Corporal Levi to risk his neck trying to save him.

He almost laughed as he remembered the flying kick to the face that poor fool with the gun had received. That is, until he remembered what had transpired right after that. Levi had mercilessly, sadistically, and maybe even a little bit gleefully, kicked the shit out of him. He'd even lost a tooth in the process. Eren absentmindedly ran his tongue over where the gap in his mouth should have been, instead feeling a fully grown adult tooth in its place.

He'd never get used to regenerating that quickly. He supposed he should be grateful but all he could think about was how everyone viewed him as some kind of monster. And really, were they wrong? He could transform into mankind's most feared and hated enemy at will. Who in their right mind wouldn't at least question his sanity? Maybe he really was a monster. He recalled the look in Mikasa's eyes as she reluctantly confirmed that he had indeed attacked her after transforming. He wasn't angry with her for confessing in the slightest. He was more angry at himself for not realizing that he had lost control and almost killed one of his dearest friends and only remaining family.

Not to mention the face that he'd almost lost himself in anger during the trial, straining against the steel bar and chains that bound him to the center of the room with inhuman strength. He didn't blame the man for wanting to end his life right then and there.

That wasn't to say he wasn't grateful to Levi for saving his skin (although he'd damaged it significantly in the process). He still had a promise to keep to destroy all the titans and free humanity from their confinement behind the walls. He knew not everyone wanted to venture beyond the walls, content with being livestock that feared the unknown. He didn't care, let them rot, he thought. He would escape his confines with his dearest friends and comrades, and that's all that mattered.

Armin had been the one to plant the idea of someday seeing the outside world in his head. With all his talk of plains of sand and great stretches of water he'd convinced Eren that he just couldn't spend his life behind these accursed walls. In the past they had often gazed up at the stars together, contemplating and imagining what in the world an "ocean" would look like, or what kind of bizarre wildlife lurked beneath its depths. They'd speculate about how in the world humans could get a fortress to float on top of the water without sinking, or how and why anyone would want to live in a plain of sand.

Eren smiled to himself. He really did miss those talks with Armin. He hoped that one day they would turn into adventures instead of stories. He'd take Mikasa along too, of course. She wouldn't stand for them to leave her behind. It would be the three of them, just like old times.

Eren frowned. He just hoped that after all this drama his dreams could still come true.

The sound of distant footsteps and hushed voices brought him out of his daydreaming. He strained to hear what they were saying, but to no avail. Against his better judgement he decided to get up and walk over to the door, trying his best not to alert the others to his presence. He pressed his ear against the giant wooden door to better hear the conversation. He immediately recognized the excited female voice as Hanji Zoe, the research scientist of the Recon Corps.

"Ne, Corporal, don't you think it'd be a good idea if I collected some specimens from him while he's still here? Who knows when I might get another chance once you two start your mission" she said with a huff. A blunt male voice that could only belong to Levi answered, "For the hundredth time, no. I need him in tip top shape if I'm going to drag him along with me outside the walls. The last thing I need is him acting like a zombie due to your depraved studies."

Hanji sighed heavily. Apparently she'd been begging him all day but to no avail. Eren was thankful that her whining hadn't convinced Levi to give in. He really didn't want to end up as her personal guinea pig. With much reluctance and annoyance she finally gave up, grumbling to herself as she retreated back down the hallway. She had wanted to point out that if Levi had really cared about Eren's condition, he wouldn't have nearly beaten him to death. She had decided against it, however, because she didn't want to be on the receiving end of Levi's boot for insubordination.

Eren heard Levi sigh to himself. "Damn woman, doesn't know when to quit."

He jumped back as he heard the jingling of keys. Was the Corporal going to pay him a visit? He shuddered involuntarily, remembering the man's brutality. He just hoped he didn't have a reason to take his frustrations out on the boy.

As Levi identified the correct key to the room, Eren quickly ran back to his bed and dove under the covers. He really didn't want to be caught eavesdropping. He did his best to slow his breathing and pulled the covers up to his neck, closing his eyes and trying his best to pretend to be asleep.

He heard the unmistakable click-clack of Levi's boots coming closer to his tiny cell. He clutched the blanket tightly to himself and hoped that Levi would fall for his sleeping act.

His hopes were immediately dashed, however.

"Jaeger, I know you aren't sleeping. It isn't polite to eavesdrop, you know," Levi said with a threatening tone that made Eren cringe. Oh shit, I'm in for it now...he thought to himself. He slowly peeked out above the covers and decided that sitting up was probably the best course of action at the moment. He reluctantly looked up at Levi, who was standing at the foot of his bed with a lit candle illuminating his features. The light reflected in his cold, grey eyes, and Eren found himself staring into their depths. He wondered what the older man was thinking. Perhaps he was contemplating ways to torture him for his transgressions? Eren really, really hoped not.

After a few awkward moments the raven haired man spoke, "Jaeger, didn't anyone ever teach you that it isn't polite to stare?"

Eren jumped at the sudden break in the silence. He averted his eyes and instead stared down at his lap. He quickly blurted out, "I'm sorry, sir! I didn't mean anything by it, I just...I wasn't expecting you to pay me a visit." He hoped that was all it was, a friendly visit.

Levi remained silent for a moment before speaking up, "What makes you think I'm here to visit you? Why would I waste my time coming down here to chit chat with a brat like you? I'm here on business. Nothing more, nothing less." Eren knew without even looking that the man was glaring at him. He could almost feel those grey eyes burning a hole into him. Eren was a little hurt by the statement, although he had no idea why. Of course one of humanity's strongest men wouldn't come down here to talk about their feelings and become the best of friends. Who would want to befriend a monster?

Levi sighed. He placed the lit candle on the small table in the corner and placed his hands behind his back.

"I came here with a request. No, an order." The older man pulled out the rickety wooden chair that had been resting under the table and sat down, facing Eren, who had finally gathered up the courage to look at Levi once again.

"A-an order, sir?" he squeaked out. He mentally kicked himself for sounding so weak. He supposed it was better this way, however. If Levi thought that the boy was anything but obedient he might get another boot to the face. He dared to look Levi in the eyes and inquired further, "what order?"

Levi looked at him with his usual cold, distant expression. He folded his hands on his lap and spoke with an authoritative tone.

"Take off your shirt."

Thanks for reading! Please review and encourage me to write more :P