Oh my, has it really been more than two months since I've updated? I'm so so so sorry! I've been so busy with school, and my other fics, and a bout of writer's block that this story has been neglected terribly. I don't know if anyone even reads this fic anymore, but I've finally updated! I promise there will be more action soon, and I know I keep saying that, but now that I've actually planned out what I want to happen I should be able to deliver. Anyway, thanks for your continued support! Every review and favorite/follow I get makes my day! Please enjoy!

"With all due respect, this sounds like a shitty idea, sir."

Levi had been sitting comfortably in his chair across from Erwin only seconds before, enjoying the quiet atmosphere of the Commander's office. Fresh coffee, a rare thing these days, had been brewed and served piping hot in chipped mugs ( it was the best they could dig up with limited funds) to the two of them, and Levi savored every drop of the dark, bitter liquid that seemed to ease his weary soul. He'd been called in to explain what had transpired on their mission the night before, and after doing so Erwin had nodded his head in acceptance, never questioning Levi's judgment, although the same could not be said for the raven haired male, who was now sending him dirty look. Normally he'd be more discreet about his displeasure, but after a night of babysitting an unpredictable drunken Eren he was in no mood for subtlety.

Erwin remained calm and collected, hands intertwined in front of his face and eyes focused on Levi with the patience of a saint.

"I'll excuse your insubordination this time, Levi, because I know what I'm asking of you is rather difficult. However, when I see an opportunity such as this present itself, I cannot afford to let it pass me by."

Already irritated from a lack of peaceful sleep and a raging headache, Levi's judgement was severely clouded, and without thinking he slammed his hands down on Erwin's desk, steel grey eyes alight with fury.

"He tried to assassinate Arlert, and we've already confirmed that he is part of a bigger whole that seems bent on destroying the Scouting Legion. Yet you think he should roam free, let alone join our ranks? I fail to see how this could turn out to be anything but disastrous, sir." The title was added on through gritted teeth in a vain attempt to show at least a tiny bit of respect.

Erwin did not flinch, taking a sip of his coffee and fixating his light blue eyes on Levi, calm and collected as ever.

"I'm well aware of that. I never said that he wouldn't be closely monitored and kept in check, Corporal. I merely suggested that it is a waste of our money and patience to continue housing him and treating his wounds with little to no information gathering in return. I see this as an opportunity to gain a skilled soldier to use against our enemy, on the condition that he is allowed to live. From there we may be able to coerce him into leading us to his group's base of operations, putting a stop to this madness once and for all."

Levi rose from his chair, silently fuming but collected enough to keep himself from having an outburst. It almost frightened him how angry he felt. It wasn't often that he allowed something to get underneath his skin enough to piss him off. Even when he was insulted(which wasn't often, not many people were brave enough to say them to his face) he usually brushed it off or at most kicked their feet out from under them, sending them flat on their ass. He could probably blame spending too much time around Eren, who was a ticking time bomb with a foul temper on the best of days. While blind fury was definitely what made Eren so dangerous, for Levi it was simply distracting, clouding his judgment.

However, clouded judgment or no, he was smart enough to see that releasing a trained assassin into their ranks was not at all wise. How could Erwin possibly think that allowing Rook to live would benefit the Scouting Legion in any way?

"And what if we just execute him? Then he'll no longer be using up valuable resources. It isn't like he'd been forthcoming with intel, and I don't believe that will change anytime soon." Levi had luckily mastered the art of the poker face many years ago, and so once he calmed down, the rage steadily building inside of him was no longer readily apparent in his tone or expression as he calmly sipped his coffee. Erwin's expression remained resolute as intertwined his fingers on top of the desk, never breaking eye contact with Levi.

"If things continue the way they are now, I agree. However, what if one of our soldiers were to try and gain his trust through camaraderie? I don't believe it's a tactic we've utilized as of yet."

Levi could hardly believe what he was hearing. Was the Commander really implying that one of them should attempt to make nice with an unstable killer in hopes that he would have a change of heart and confess? That was more than Levi could pretend to handle at the moment.

"A tactic that may cost us everything," Levi replied, his tone icy as he felt the last of his patience quickly dissipating. Deciding it would be wise to disappear for a bit before things got out of hand, Levi rose from his seat, not giving Erwin time to scold him before he marched through the exit and into the bright afternoon sun that only served to make him wince with its annoying brightness.

The door slammed shut behind him, and Erwin heaved a tired sigh as he massaged his temples. Headaches plagued him often these days, and Levi's refusal to cooperate gave him no respite. He knew he let Levi get away with far too much because of his importance, and partially because of personal reasons. Any other subordinates that stormed out like an angry teenager would be promptly dismissed from service and sent back to cower behind the walls with the rest of the weaklings. Levi had always been quite headstrong, and it had taken Erwin a very long time to beat the pride out of the raven haired male long enough to bring him into his fold.

He would overlook this, just like he always did, for better or for worse, because he wasn't about to let all of that hard work training an undisciplined dog go to waste.

Levi knew he was pushing it, storming out of Erwin's office like a petulant teenager. Fortunately for him Erwin was well accustomed to his attitude and almost always overlooked his transgressions simply due to the fact that besides Eren, he was the Scouting Legion's most valuable asset. It was already turning out to be a shitty day, and he'd only been out of bed for a few hours. He hadn't gotten much sleep, as usual, mostly due to the events of the day replaying themselves over and over again in his mind. He'd come this close to losing his squad, and although everyone knows that a soldier should always be ready to lose comrades it was never quite as easy as it sounded.

Also the fact that he'd left an essentially helpless Eren alone in his chambers didn't quite sit well with him. Although it would have looked extremely odd to anyone passing by to find the Corporal in Eren's bedroom, watching over him like a mother hen, he couldn't help but feel that he was responsible for the brunette. In retrospect he was almost glad he'd refrained from doing so. He'd already had to endure the giggles and knowing looks of his squad after he'd been "rescued" by the brat.

He should have left Eren in the dining hall where he'd found him.

As he trudged past the stables Levi was stopped in his tracks when he caught a glimpse of the new recruits arriving on the grounds, most of them on horseback but a few choosing to walk to stretch their legs. Among them was the petite blonde kid known as Armin Arlert, who was almost always following Eren around like a lost puppy. The one Eren had risked his life to save. Levi really had no opinion on him so far, although he'd heard rumors that the kid was a tactical genius, having come up with the idea of plugging the hole in Wall Rose with the boulder using Eren's titan to carry it. He'd essentially won them the battle, although he hadn't been the one to carry it out.

The blonde was chatting excitedly with a tall, dark haired, fair skinned girl whose mouth was covered with a red scarf, eyes casually shifting back and forth across the castle grounds to take in her surroundings. Levi immediately recognized her as Mikasa Ackerman, the girl who had been supposedly attacked by Eren in his titan form, although she had seemed dead set on proving the brunette's innocence. He also recalled the girl's initial reaction to Eren's beating, the look of murderous rage in her eyes as Armin held her back from jumping the railing and attempting to throttle him.

According to the rumors, of which Levi put little stock in, she was a prodigy, a soldier the likes of which humanity had not seen since he himself first joined the Survey Corps. A force to be reckoned with, capable of taking down aberrant titans single-handedly. A beauty with the top grades and combat skills in her training class. A fiery spirit who had finally sensed his presence and was now looking directly at him, instantly recognizing the man who had nearly beaten her adopted brother to death.

Levi soon regretted leaving Erwin's office upon noticing the look of pure malice directed at him from Mikasa, her eyes practically burning holes into him as she stopped dead in her tracks. Armin looked back at her, confused look on his face as to why she had stopped until he followed her line of sight to where Levi was currently standing. A look of horror flashed across his face when he realized that Mikasa had no intention of simply letting sleeping dogs lie, mostly because it involved Eren. Levi couldn't hear them from the distance, but the way the blonde kept tugging on her arm while she angrily stormed in Levi's direction told him that he was trying desperately to avoid a messy argument.

Levi considered just walking away and ignoring the furious female, but by the time he began to leave Mikasa had already closed the gap between him, coming to a stop a mere few feet away and completely blocking his escape route. Taking a deep breath and crossing his arms defensively, Levi braced himself for the worst. Armin, who had obviously failed in his attempts to make the girl see reason, simply hung his head low in defeat in kicked at a pebble on the ground.

Mikasa, practically radiating anger, narrowed her eyes as she looked upon him, pulling her scarf down just enough so that she would be able to speak clearly.

"Where is Eren? What have you done with him?" she demanded, voice low and foreboding. No greeting, no proper use of titles, no respect for authority. Levi has expected as much.

"It's nice to see you again too, Ackerman. I suppose you're here because you chose to join the Scouting Legion? Congratulations," he didn't even attempt to hide the sarcasm in his statement as he returned her less than polite greeting. Mikasa was clearly not amused as she clenched her fists at her sides, and Armin made a futile attempt to calm her by placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't fuck with me. You're lucky that I don't kill you right here and now for daring to lay a finger on Eren!" her voice was shaking with anger, and Levi couldn't help but be the slightest bit surprised by the girl's murderous glare. Aside from Eren he'd never seen a person capable of looking almost...inhuman. Armin was more than a little shaken at hearing the angry words coming from the usually level headed girl, but then again she had always been emotional when it came to Eren. Still, it didn't set well with the blonde to hear his friend show such blatant disregard for a man who certainly deserved some respect.

"Mikasa, you can't just talk to the Corporal like that…" Armin cautioned her, but from the looks of things she was deaf to anything he had to say. She dared to step closer to Levi this time, close enough to hit him if she so desired. Not that he would let her get the chance.

"I don't care who he is, he hurt Eren, and that makes him my enemy," the words were strained, and Armin could tell she was holding back, but much like a dam holding back a mighty river, there was only so much she could take before she gave in to the rage building inside her.

Levi couldn't give two fucks what others thought of him, but damned if he would stand there and be accused of beating Eren for sheer entertainment.

"I only did what was necessary to save his life, you should be thanking me," Levi mused, satisfied with the way Mikasa grit her teeth and bristled in response. It was a little like poking a grizzly bear with a stick. Fun, almost, just to see how far she could be pushed.

"You went too far! He was covered in blood and bruises!" she snarled, and Levi found it rather unbecoming of a girl her age, prodigy or not.

"I had to make it look convincing, or would you rather he be turned into a giant lab rat?" Levi looked at his nails in feigned disinterest, serving only to add fuel to the fire, "besides, he's already forgiven me, so why don't you stop talking before you dig yourself into an even deeper hole?" It was his turn to glare at Mikasa, a deadly look in his silver eyes which were now narrowed almost to slits. That seemed to be the final straw, and before he could react Levi found himself face to face with Mikasa, so close that he could feel the warmth of her breath in the cool afternoon air. Although a lesser man might back away, Levi would not be intimated by a girl half his age and remained anchored to the spot. She was trembling now, knuckles turning white as she clenched them in an effort to keep from punching Levi right that very second.

"I'm done talking anyway. Now answer me! Where. Is. EREN?!"

Armin had finally managed to gather the courage to intervene and wedged himself in between the two, arms outstretched in a defensive gesture as he turned his back towards Levi.

"Mikasa! That's enough! We're already in enough trouble as it is for helping Eren, don't make it worse or we might never get to see him ever again! I know you don't want that!" his voice was hoarse, full of desperation, and his sapphire blue eyes were wide and pleading as he looked upon his childhood friend. Mikasa's expression instantly softened at the thought of never seeing her beloved brother again, and she begrudgingly backed away from Levi, throwing her scarf over her shoulder and looking down at the ground solemnly. She knew Armin was right, even if she didn't want to admit it, and that was enough to subdue her. For now.

Without another word she retreated back to the rest of the recruits, who had been watching the spectacle in awe but quickly scrambled to appear disinterested as she approached. When the coast was clear, Armin lowered his arms and breathed a sigh of relief before turning to face Levi, looking rather worried.

"I'm so, so sorry Lance Corporal, sir, I tried to stop her but…when it comes to Eren she gets a little…emotional sometimes," he apologized, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly and staring at the ground. Levi gave him the same indifferent look he wore so often, nodding slightly.

"I can see that. I suppose I should thank you for jumping in before things got…unpleasant," Levi's attempt at gratitude seemed to pass for Armin, who gave him a small smile and a nod.

"If you want to see Eren, I suppose I can go wake him for you," Levi offered, although he wasn't entirely sure why. It wasn't like he really owed the blonde anything, but he supposed that Eren would wake up soon anyway with a nasty hangover plaguing him. Armin looked a bit taken aback at the offer, but nodded in affirmation.

"That would be great, thanks."

Levi was none too surprised to find a few of his squad members still passed out in the dining hall, and had he not been on a mission to retrieve a certain sleeping brat he might have given them a rude awakening, but as it was he let them rest, some of them face down in a puddle of their own drool. Grabbing a lantern from a nearby storage closet, he rounded the corner to the basement door, fishing in his pockets for the key to unlock it. He'd been personally opposed to keeping Eren locked up in addition to making him sleep in the basement, however it wasn't his call to make.

The door clicked open and Levi entered, surprised to see that the few torches lining the walls still burned, although they were dying rapidly with the new rush of outside air. He slowly descended the stairs, unsure of what he would find when he arrived at the bottom. Would Eren be hung over, or angry with him for leaving him all alone in his inebriated state? Why did he even care what Eren thought of him? They didn't have to like each other, just work together.

When he finally reached the bottom Levi was greeted with the sight of a slumbering Eren, wrapped up in his blankets like a cocoon, seemingly sleeping peacefully. However, as the older male drew closer to the small one person bed he could hear mumbling and he saw Eren fidgeting in his sleep, clutching the pillow for dear life. It appeared that the brunette was dreaming, and from the way his brows were furrowed and the few pitiful whimpers he let out it was not a good one.

"No, stop…" he pleaded in a low, whiny voice, and for a moment Levi found it amusing that the potential savior of humanity was having a nightmare, even though he'd been living in one from the very beginning. Levi placed his lantern on the nightstand and sat on the edge of the bed opposite to Eren, studying the brunette's distressed expression as he tossed and turned. Was he being chased by titans? Or perhaps he'd been captured and was forced to endure cruel experiments. Levi could only imagine what horrors Eren's young mind could conjure up.

What he'd really dreamt about, however, made Levi's breath catch in his throat.

"Mom…I'm sorry" he whispered, a single, solemn tear rolling down his cheek, and Levi knew it was a testament to just how harrowing the story of his childhood had been. Not that he had doubted it, of course; many people lost loved ones every day that the titans were allowed to live, this boy was no different in that respect. However, while most people either choose to sit and mourn or find a form of escapism to forget, Eren Jaeger had grown resolute, strong, determined to get revenge. Perhaps it was no healthier a solution to be obsessed with revenge than to drink your sorrows away, but at least it was more productive. Levi felt sympathy for him, of course, but Eren wasn't one for needless pity, and so he'd keep it to himself.

Any other time Levi might have left Eren to his dreams; after all, it was no business of his what or who the brunette dreamed of. However, he'd volunteered to retrieve Eren for Armin's sake, because he'd stuck his neck out and prevented a nasty scene between Levi and Mikasa. Besides, it would be merciful of him to put an end to the nightmare, especially since the events in it were quite real. Whether Eren felt like waking up or not, he would fulfill his end of the bargain. As the brunette continued to toss and turn in a fitful sleep Levi leaned towards him until he was close enough to lay a hand on his shoulder, gently shaking him.

"Oi, Eren, wake up. I have some news you might like to hear."

Eren made a disgruntled face before turning away from the touch and sinking further beneath the covers, grumbling like a child that didn't want to wake up for a day of work. Levi simply sighed, exasperated already and he'd only just begun to attempt waking the sleeping beauty. He forcefully pulled Eren back to his previous position on his back, ignoring the swatting from the brunette.

"Hey, lazy ass, get the hell up before I kick you out of this bed," Levi commanded, voice loud and clear this time as he pinched the bridge of Eren's nose hard enough to cut off airflow. Immediately Eren tried to pull away, forcing his mouth open to gasp for breath. After a few seconds of attempting to dislodge Levi's fingers, Eren's eyes finally fluttered open, vision blurry and unfocused and confusion setting in. Once Levi succeeded to getting the brunette at least partially awake he removed his fingers, allowing Eren to breathe better.

"Uhhh…" Eren groaned, sounding much like the living dead as he sat upright in bed, rubbing the sore spot on his nose and frowning. Still groggy, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and yawned before stretching his newly regenerated muscles. It wasn't until Levi not so subtly cleared his throat that Eren realized he was not alone. Turning towards the source of the noise, Eren's eyes widened in surprise when he spotted Levi sitting on the edge of the bed, arms crossed and face indifferent as always.

"Corporal? What are you doing here?"

"I came to make sure you didn't drown in your own vomit," Levi quipped, and Eren's ears turned bright red when he remembered (vaguely) what had transpired the night before. Strangely enough, with all the talk of hangovers from the soldiers that manned the garrison, the headaches and nausea, Eren was surprised when he awoke feeling quite normal, if a little groggy. Levi had almost expected the brunette to be clinging to a bucket and puking his guts out by now, but he chalked it up to his titan regenerative abilities neutralizing the toxins in his body. After a drawn out silence between them, Levi decided that instead of informing Eren immediately about his friend's arrival he would give him a little more time to fully recover. He didn't want the boy showing any signs of alcohol consumption in front of Mikasa to avoid any accusations and conflict.

"Well, how are you feeling?" he asked nonchalantly, looking up at the ceiling instead of at Eren to make him more comfortable.

"Ah…fine. Just a little sluggish, I guess." Eren shifted his legs into a crossed position and placed his hands into his lap, fidgeting with a hangnail. It wasn't like the Corporal to ask such questions of the blue. Eren supposed he must have gotten pretty drunk to have Levi look after him like this. Levi made a humming noise in acknowledgement but otherwise remained silent. It was a few moments before Eren finally decided to give into his curiosity.

"Um, can I ask you something?"

Levi turned to face him once more, and suddenly Eren felt very small and timid under his unwavering silver gaze.

"What is it?"

Eren wrung his hands nervously; unsure if he should really pursue the topic in fear of learning that he had done something foolish. Surely he'd be in a lot deeper shit had he done something majorly stupid, like turn into a titan and start rampaging across the grounds.

No, Levi swore to…to put an end to me if I did that.

"Um, well…did I drink a lot last night?"

Levi actually looked somewhat amused at the question, lips nearly curling into a small smile, but not quite. Eren couldn't help but think that the gesture was kind of cute.

"Enough to make you get up on the table and start shouting about your heroic exploits," Levi mused, as if it was a fond memory of a particularly amusing scene. Eren normally wasn't one for bravado, partially because he didn't have a lot of victories to speak of.

"Ugh…I must have looked like an ass," Eren groaned, hiding his face in his hands. Would the shame never end? It was far better than learning he'd started a fight, or worse, ended up killing someone in a drunken fit of rage, but still. Levi was glad to see that Eren was beginning to regret his actions. Hopefully he had learned some kind of lesson, or something.

"Yes, you did," Eren flinched at that as if he'd received a blow to the gut," but don't worry about it too much, the others were just as drunk as you were, if not more so, I highly doubt they'll remember any of it," Levi attempted to reassure him, and although it made Eren feel a bit better, the fact that Levi remembered it was perhaps the worst part of all.

"What about you? Did you drink anything?"

Levi shook his head. "No. I don't drink, for multiple reasons. In fact I was the only one sober enough to carry your dead weight down here," Levi quipped, and Eren immediately felt ashamed at being so inebriated that he couldn't even get to bed by himself.

"You carried me?" Eren asked in disbelief, voice small and green eyes wide. Levi sighed. He really wished that Eren would stop asking stupid questions, but he played the patient listener to avoid hurting the brunette's feelings.

"More like dragged, but yes. How else did you think you got down here?"

Eren chewed on his lip, something he often did when he wasn't entirely sure what to say. After all the bullshit he'd said to the Corporal that day in his office, after running off into the forest when he'd been ordered not to, after throwing himself at the older male, this just seemed like icing on the cake. When would he stop making an ass out of himself in front of the person he admired most in this world? More importantly, why did Levi keep putting up with him?

"I guess. You didn't have to…" Eren finally looked back up at Levi, whose unsettling gaze was fixated on him, and the brunette wished now more than ever that he could sink through the floor and disappear. Levi shrugged; it really hadn't been hard to carry Eren, just time consuming, also there had been the fear the the brunette would suddenly decide to vomit on him.

"But I did. Just so you know, you don't owe me anything."

Eren bit his lip hard enough to make it bleed, just to distract himself from the odd tightness in his chest. It wasn't long before the tiny cut mended itself, however, and for once Eren cursed his regenerative abilities.

That isn't true, I owe you more than I could ever repay.

"I…um….thanks…"

Levi simply nodded, and Eren felt his cheeks burn. Was it just his internal body heat or did it seem to be growing steadily warmer in the room by the second? Desperately wanting to change the subject, Eren opted for continuing the discussion on his first night of drunken revelry.

"I…um…did I say anything embarrassing? Besides the table thing, that is."

Levi thought back to the heartfelt confession of Eren's deepest fears and weaknesses, the way he had confided everything to the older male in an effort to seek some kind of reassurance that he was indeed human and not a monster to be reviled. It was the most vulnerable Levi had ever seen him, a reminder that for all of his courage and recklessness, inside Eren was still a frightened child lashing out in an attempt to appear strong. Who was he to break that facade?

"Not really," he lied, and luckily for him Eren bought it, or seemed to anyway, as he brought his knees up to his chest and stared off in deep thought. Levi had had just about enough of being drilled with questions, and he stood up from his place on the bed to stretch, wincing at a particularly sore spot in his shoulder that had made itself known that morning when he awoke from what couldn't really be called sleep. He blamed on supporting Eren's dead weight for far too long, but chose not to bring it up. Eren seemed to feel guilty enough without adding insult to injury.

When Eren saw Levi rise from the bed he felt compelled to ask a question that had been burning in the back of his mind ever since he'd learned that Levi had escorted his inebriated self to the dungeon. It was probably better not to ask, but since when had he ever learned to keep his mouth shut when he should?

"One more question, if you don't mind."

Levi closed his eyes and inhaled through his nose. He really hoped it was only one more question, or he was liable to just turn and walk right up the stairs, Eren's feelings be damned.

"Shoot."

"Did we…I mean," Eren stumbled over the words, a nervous fluttering in his stomach making it impossible to speak clearly, "…we were alone down here, right?"

Levi didn't like where this was going, and although he had no reason to be defensive he was in no mood for the brunette's hormonal delusions. Not after dealing with Erwin and Mikasa. Narrowing his silver eyes, he regarded Eren with a suspicious look.

"What are you getting at?"

Eren rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, averting his eyes and speaking in a trembling voice that was very unlike his usually grating, aggressive tone that Levi had grown rather accustomed to.

"Did we…you know…do anything?" His tone was almost hopeful, green eyes wide and full of anxiety.

Levi openly scoffed at that, and immediately Eren regretted asking as he turned away and flushed in embarrassment. He had to admit the brunette was persistent, and not many people would have to balls to keep barking up this particular tree.

This stubborn kid, I'm going to kick his ass. Again.

Instead of blowing up at the accusation Levi played it off smoothly, letting sarcasm and wit take over where anger and impatience were beginning to creep in.

"Tch. You wish."

Eren looked disappointed with Levi's answer, expression crestfallen. He should have been happy that nothing out of the ordinary had occurred, because even if it had, the fact of the matter was that he would most likely not remember it. However, it would have been okay to forget in exchange for just one night with the person he admired more than anyone else in the shitty world they called home.

Of course nothing happened. It never would, as much as he wanted it to, for whatever reason. Levi had made that much clear already. He needed to let it go, but he was awful at letting things go, and this was no different. But even he knew that there were some things he could never change. Hanging his head in defeat, Eren resigned himself to his fate of never knowing what could have been between them.

"Right. Sorry I asked."

Levi almost felt guilty for dashing Eren's hopes like that, but really, it was an insult for the brunette to imply that he would do anything like that with someone not in their right mind. A soldier he was, but he didn't feel the need to resort to rape to get off.

"For your information, I don't make a habit of taking advantage of drunken brats," Levi stated, and Eren felt as if he'd been punched in the gut. He honestly hadn't meant it that way, and it only served to make him feel even more like a piece of shit.

"I'm sorry…I didn't mean…I should have never gotten drunk in the first place…I was just trying to forget everything…I was weak."

Levi sighed. If he'd known that waking Eren up would involve having coddle him and answer a myriad questions he wouldn't have bothered.

"You're anything but weak, Eren. You think you're the only one who needs an escape from this shithole of a world every now and then? Why do you think alcohol even exists?"

When his words only served to make Eren hang his head lower, Levi swiftly changed the subject.

"Now shut up and get dressed if you want to see your little playmates. They arrived this morning and started badgering me about wanting to see you."

In the blink of an eye Eren's downtrodden demeanor had been replaced with surprise and borderline joy as he looked up at Levi, emerald eyes gleaming with hope. He'd nearly forgotten about the ceremony the night before because of all that had happened with the mission.

"You mean Mikasa and Armin? They're here?" Before he had time to think about it, Eren's body began moving on its own as he climbed out of bed, scrambling to find his casual clothes. Levi was a little relieved to see that Eren didn't make a habit of sleeping in the nude. He did, however, start stripping once he'd found his clothes crumpled in a heap in the corner of his room. He'd certainly come a long way from being too embarrassed to take off his shirt in front of another male. Levi had the decency not to stare, instead focusing on the ceiling once more.

"Along with a few others, yes. They will be part of the Scouting Legion from here on out."

Unfortunately.

Once Eren had changed he quickly pulled on his socks and boots, talking aloud enthusiastically as if the past hour had never happened at all. Levi didn't like to admit it but he certainly preferred enthusiastic Eren to depressed Eren any day.

"This is great! It feels like I haven't seen my friends from the training squad in ages. I wonder if Jean really went through with joining the Military Police. Surely Reiner and Bertholdt made the right decision to join us, they're a lot smarter and stronger than that asshole. I knew Mikasa would come no matter what, but I still wish she would stop treating me like I'm her kid or something." Once Eren finished pulling on his boots he stood and stretched his arms over his head to work out the kinks in his muscles.

Hard to believe this is the same brat that was drowning his sorrows not long ago.

"I'm going to go see them…I mean, if that's okay with you, sir." Eren lowered his arms and gave Levi a hopeful look like a kid begging his mom to go outside and play. Levi looked at him and shrugged.

"Knock yourself out. They should be in the courtyard."

Eren's lips curved into a genuine smile as his eyes filled with what Levi could only guess was gratitude, although he had little to do with his friends' arrival. It was rare to see anyone besides Hanji smile like that these days, and Levi actually felt his heart warm a little at the sight.

Stop it.

"Thanks…for everything."

Levi's eyes widened a tiny bit at the unexpected gratitude as Eren pulled on his Scouting Legion jacket and made for the stairs, leaving the older male alone with his thoughts. Levi looked down at the tangle of bedclothes that Eren had left in his wake and frowned. He should have made him clean up before he left, the place was a pig sty. Rising from his spot on the bed, Levi gathered the sheets and blankets and tossed them into a pile on the floor to be washed. He would have to make Eren sweep and mop the place again, it was starting to smell like mildew, hardly surprising because of its location.

Perhaps he should have mentioned the part about Rook possibly being set free. He'd fully intended to, but after seeing Eren so happy for the first time since he'd met the brat…something had stopped him from taking that happiness and snuffing it out. Of course it was inevitable that Eren would learn truth, and he'd be pissed, as usual, but if the brunette could have just a few minutes of uninterrupted joy while reuniting with his comrades then Levi was willing to put up with a temper tantrum or two.

Stop making me like you, damn it.

Eren stepped into the brightness of the morning sun, squinting and cursing as his eyes took their sweet time to adjust to the light. It felt incredibly good to breathe fresh air after spending the night in his damp, musty cell. When the light no longer blinded him Eren took a look around the courtyard, hoping to spot some familiar faces. Towards to edge of the grounds he saw a large group that had gathered and were excitedly chattering away, seemingly waiting for something. Among them he spotted Armin and Mikasa, the latter of which looked more than a little unhappy.

His heart leapt in his chest at the sight of his childhood friends, alive and healthy and standing there before him, a miracle these days. His feet moved on their own, hastily carrying him across the courtyard until he was within yelling distance. He was so overcome with relief and joy that it took him a moment to find his voice.

"Armin! Mikasa! Over here!" He waved enthusiastically, and when Mikasa turned to face him her grim expression instantly softened, her eyes taking on that gentle, caring look they always did when she saw Eren, the last of her family and the most precious thing in her world. She pulled down the scarf around her mouth, earning a questioning look from Armin, who hadn't heard Eren's shouting.

"What is it, Mikasa? Are you alright?"

By the time he'd turned to ask she had already departed, practically running to where Eren was standing, and Armin smiled softly as he watched them reunite. He could tell that Mikasa had wanted to hug him tightly, but had held back and grabbed his hands in hers instead to avoid embarrassing the brunette. Although he was also happy to see Eren, he decided to hang back and give them some space.

"Eren! Are you alright? Did he do anything to you? You can tell me, I promise I'll make him pay," Mikasa spoke a mile minute, her eyebrows scrunched in concern as she looked him over, searching for any evidence of injury or abuse. Eren gave her a confused look, dodging her attempts to inspect his arms for cuts and bruises.

"If you're talking about Corporal Levi then no, he hasn't done anything to me since the courtroom. Which was necessary, by the way." It wasn't really a lie, besides a few shin kicks here and there Levi had not shown any signs of violence towards him. Thankfully.

Mikasa finally gave up on searching Eren for evidence to justify her tracking down the Corporal and beating him to a bloody pulp. She blinked back tears that had unwittingly formed at the corners of her eyes as she lowered her head.

"He went too far, Eren. You don't have to justify what he's done. I promise as long as I'm alive I'll never let you get hurt like that again." She looked up at Eren through a curtain of raven hair, determination set on her face.

Eren rolled his eyes and pulled his hands away. He missed Mikasa, he really did, but her overprotective mother hen attitude was wearing on him already and they'd barely been talking for five minutes.

"Look Mikasa, as long as you stay here you need to drop the grudge you carry against the Corporal or you're going to get kicked out. He's a pretty good guy once you get to know him. So just promise me you won't do anything stupid, okay?" Although Eren believed it to be true, could he really claim to know Levi that well? He'd caught glimpses of a caring mentor beneath his cold, impassive exterior, and he'd even witnessed a playful side of him, as well as a lustful side. But when it came to knowing the real Levi, Eren had made hardly any progress. It would take a mutual effort of a willingness to bond for that to happen, if it was even possible.

"Alright Eren, if you say so. I promise."

Their reunion was interrupted by a sudden hush that fell over the courtyard as all heads turned their attention towards the entrance of the castle. There stood the tall, imposing form of Erwin Smith, who without uttering a single word demanded the utmost respect and silence. Armin had slipped through the crowd to stand beside Eren and Mikasa, flashing Eren a smile in greeting before straightening his face to appear attentive.

Erwin scanned the crowd before him, the same recruits that he had welcomed in the ceremony the night before now looked up to him with excitement and trepidation in their eyes. Folding his arms behind his back, Erwin cleared his throat and put on a polite smile before addressing his soon to be soldiers.

"Good morning, new recruits. I'm delighted to see so many fresh, young faces pledging themselves to humanity's cause. I'll skip the welcome speech because you've already heard my terms and conditions for joining the Legion, else you wouldn't be standing before me today. Know that I am proud to call you my soldiers, and I expect nothing less than perfection as you steel yourselves to become the best you can be for the sake of humanity. Please make yourselves at home; tonight you are free to do as you wish, and in in the morning you will begin training. That is all."

Without another word Erwin disappeared back inside of the castle, the sound of applause echoing against the cool stone walls as he shut the door behind him. There, lurking in the shadows of the doorway, Levi stood leaning with one foot against the wall, arms crossed as he regarded Erwin with an impassive stare.

"A rousing speech as always, Commander." His tone betrayed his feigned enthusiasm. Erwin's stony gaze fell upon him, his expression unreadable as always, icy blue eyes seemingly seeing through to his very soul. No matter his strength or determination, that look always served to unnerve Levi, giving him an unpleasant sensation of being analyzed like some kind of test subject.

"Levi, don't you think you should have been by my side for it? The youth of today looks up to you far more than I. You are humanity's strongest soldier, after all."

Levi snorted, looking unamused. He was rather tired of playing the part of hero for a bunch of ignorant brats who'd barely begun to cut their teeth in battle.

"I'm sure they'll live without gazing upon my magnificence. Tell me, are you still planning on releasing Rook?"

Erwin looked down upon the raven haired male, their height difference more apparent now than ever. Levi hated feeling small, and so he'd compensated for his size with a strong sense of self. It was times like these, however, when he truly felt his actual size.

"I prefer to call him 'the prisoner'; he has not earned the right to a name."

And yet you trust him enough to let him loose. Hypocrisy at its finest.

Levi pushed himself off the wall to stand at his full height before the blonde, refusing to be intimated any farther.

"Very well. What are your plans for 'the prisoner'?"

Erwin exhaled through his nose, a subtle sign that he was growing weary of talking.

"My plans have not changed. I have arranged a meeting with him this afternoon courtesy of Hanji to discuss my terms."

Levi's brows furrowed into his characteristic scowl, although he forced himself to hide his displeasure, at least until he could escape the blonde's sights.

"I don't suppose there's anything I can say to convince you that he's better off dead then?"

Erwin shook his head."No, I stand firm in my decision, and you would do well to accompany me, Levi. You know I value your support above all others. I must take my leave now. Think about your position on this, Levi. This could be our one chance to bring this cult to its knees and show that no matter what species our enemy may be, human or titan, we will prevail."

Erwin passed him, walking leisurely in the direction of his office, leaving Levi to silently stew in his bottled up anger.

"…."

Levi plopped down onto one of the bench seats in the hall, frowning.

I've run out of options. If Erwin really intends to go through with this I have little choice but to cooperate or lose any trust he's placed in me. I couldn't care less if he likes me, but I need him to trust me to look after Eren. I suppose it won't matter for much longer. If I agree to this, the brat will hate me anyway.

If only that prisoner suffered some kind of unfortunate accident before being set free…

Levi looked down to the blades holstered on his belt, but immediately scratched the idea. It would be all too obvious who killed Rook and how, especially since Erwin knew he wasn't crazy about the whole free the prisoner idea.

There must be another way…

His thoughts were interrupted by the creaking of the front doors, and Levi glanced up to see Armin entering the dining hall, strangely without the company of a certain brunette. Suddenly, an idea was born inside of his head, an unprecedented, perhaps insane, but seemingly brilliant idea. The blonde stepped inside and closed the door behind him before heading in the direction of the kitchens to fetch some water for the other recruits.

He's supposed to be a tactical genius. Time to put that rumor to the test.

"Arlert, come here. I need to speak with you."