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Smog filled the air around them. Grumbles and cries could be heard drenching the thick air. The sounds of blades slicing flesh were followed by a loud thud. More Titan waves attack their defences. Levi stands firmly on the wall, clutching his blades.
“Let’s keep moving forward,” he roars, slashing two more titans. He doesn’t notice the large titan on the side as it kicks him with its large foot, sending the captain flying across. His head hits the tree, and he slumps down. Grunting in pain, he holds himself up, boots firmly implanting the soil, seeking balance. Needle-prickling, sharp pain erupts across his nape and ascends across his whole head. Darkness swallows him, drenching him in serene slumber.
When he comes through, he is resting on soft albeit firm flesh. A titan? His hands reach for the blades. But his hands are empty. He clenches his teeth, eyes skirting up to see the titan who holds him in its palm. Surprise knocks the wind out of him.
“Eren?” Levi speaks breathlessly. Head still hazy he looks down to see they weren’t far from the wall, Eren must’ve caught him when he slipped and fell from the wall.
The large form lets out a low rumble. Anyone in their right mind will have a laugh if they are told Eren and Captain Levi are in a compromising, endearing position. Jean, for his part, will kick them in the nuts for even speaking of such blasphemy.
And yet the scene before the squad was heart-warming. Something they’ll be laughing and mocking Eren over the next couple of days. Hange can try to fool around Levi, calling him Thumbelina. No one else wants to clean shit by annoying the captain.
Eren Yeager was in his titan form, gently cupping the captain in his palm and protecting him. while their squad slashed and sliced the few remaining titans. They were almost done with this area. removing the titans storming at them, like a large, mindless, flesh-filled plushie.
“Put me down, Eren,” Levi spat, blood rushing to his ears and cheeks, not from the hot temperature outside but from the fact that his youngest squad member was holding him tenderly like a precious glass decoration. Or maybe a toy? Levi hates to ask.
He was lifted even higher, his blades removed; he felt naked without his blades in the presence of Eren’s titan form. He stamped his foot harder, digging his heel deeper pinching Eren’s hand. With another rumble that sounded almost like a whine, Eren moved closer towards a large tree. Eren never tries to harm him despite the pain in his palm. He cannot pose a threat to the massive titan.
Changing his body posture and lowering his knee, he jumps towards the tree when he is close enough to climb, and he swears he hears a pitiful, childish whine leave the titan’s large, razor-sharp teeth littering his mouth. Eren almost sounds like a little kid losing his precious toy.
“You enjoy holding me, Eren?” He taunts the pouting titan, who appears to look at him like an overgrown puppy, his eyes glistening, shoulders slouching, and hands still held out, in case Levi changes his mind and jumps back to stay with the titan.
“Answer me!” he says louder this time. One of their squad members lets out a squeak at the sudden noise and turns around to stare at the weird duo before rushing away from the enemy titan, for it was edging closer to grab him.
Titan Eren, unable to communicate like he normally does, nods his head, his long hair cascading and dancing along with the wind, reminding the captain of a puppy. Even in the underground, at times, you can spot domesticated animals and rare sightings of dogs and cats. Levi was fond of a black cat back in the good old days. The three of them were unstoppable, enjoying their regular loot. They were living their lives without regard for what was happening above.
Levi knows Isabel and Eren would’ve gotten along well, but thinking about her and his best friend sends a sharp dagger of pain across his chest, and he frowns, looking away from Eren, fingers twitching to kill every titan at sight.
He sags behind the tree, his knees giving out, and the dried-up blood on his temple irritates him. He notices a large shadow looming over him, and looking up, he sees a concerned-looking Eren staring at him.
Shaking his head, too tired, and with his head throbbing from the previous blow to his injured, bloody head, he lay still, the bark of the tree biting his back and his sore muscles screaming at him for a bed.
The sun was slowly dipping down, the glow of tangerine hues swam through the sky, and the titans were starting to slow down.
“We’re staying back to monitor them during the night!” Hange’s voice echoes, knowing his friend, Levi has to stay back to ensure he can save his friend. Eren seems to be thinking along the same line, he lets out a weird gurgling noise.
Levi is not sure when he loses consciousness, slowly and comfortably, he moves closer towards the soft mattress he was resting on, it twitches and moves, and his quick reflexes make him sit upright only to relax and lour at the start Eren still in his titan form, cupping a sleepy, distraught Levi in his palm. Levi isn’t made out of glass, stupid brat.
This was the second time? What will their squad members think of him?
He looks across to see Hange smirking his way. He rolls his eyes, threatening them to not speak a word of it.
Head throbbing painfully, he looks around, it’s dark now and unlike other titans, Eren seems to be alert and capable of moving. Meanwhile, the ones around them lay still their eyes creepy and wide open as they stay pretended dead without sunlight over them. Hange thinks the same as they note down these findings in the dirty book they are holding.
“I could get used to using your hand as a pillow, brat,” Levi says conversationally, Eren cocks his head, his dark hair oddly soft and silky despite being a giant monster in form, even his palm is soft, as it cushions Levi’s buttocks.
Okay maybe not think too much about it, Levi splatters the thoughts with a blink of his eyes.
Stomping down the weird thought, he calls out for Hange to head back, they have been here for the whole day they need to report back and rest.
Getting a confirmation to move along, Levi asks Eren to place him on his horse, the brown mare neighs and accepts him, they travel for a few times or so, his head starts to throb painfully and his vision blurs, world around him melting away, he can feel something large pick him up and warmth and safety floods him again, he sighs accepting the titan’s safety cocooning hand. This time around it feels about right. He can get used to this brat safekeeping him.
The next time he wakes him, he sees the young boy in his human form, his long brown hair hitting his shoulder now. Levi glares at him, and Eren shies away his cheeks blooming with a flush.
Although his heart hammers pleasantly, he accepts the flushed boy for himself. Eren was the most beautiful boy he had ever seen in Paradis. He was never going to admit it out loud now. Will he change his mind even if they travel outside the island to other places? Hell Nah., Eren will still remain the most enamouring in his eyes.
“Don’t get mad at him, Levi,” Hange says, standing there with a paper and pen, their glasses perching over their nose, they are smirking behind that. Levi knows that much. Duh… It’s Hange for crying out loud.
“How are you feeling now captain?” asks the brat, his face twisting with worry, Levi prefers the boy smiling and giggling with that blond kid he spends most of his time with and that other Ackerman girl who seems to hate Levi for whatever wild, uncanny reasons she has.
Recently all Eren does is worry and frown, lost in his thoughts and Levi is busy picking up the pieces and issues his blond friend has left behind for him and Hange to handle. He promises the boy they can talk, but Levi never has time.
Right now, seeing the creasing line of worry over his forehead ruining his handsome face pisses off the raven, he beckons the boy to come closer, Eren scoots closer and stares at him, his green eyes oddly bright and glistening. Levi could kiss if not for Hange’s presence.
“Stop frowning brat, I’m not dead.” Eren flinches at his words, Levi pokes his creasing forehead with his pointing finger, causing the brunet to blush again. Levi finds himself smirking and his smug countenance elicits more tender reactions from the boy. He is enjoying this.
“Stop flirting and get well soon, Levi.” Hange singsongs leaving them both alone, turning their back to the death glare Levi is giving them. Smiling, they wave and close the door behind them. Hange, being the smart one, slid the door shut, giggling behind it, clearly aware of what was about to embark between the embarrassing couple.
They sit in comfortable silence. Levi holds Eren’s gaze in a challenge, daring him to look away from him. Much to his pleasure and surprise, Eren does not lower his gaze. He accepts the challenge.
“Are you angry with me?” Eren asks, looking a bit abashed and apologetic. Jean was throwing bread crumbs at him earlier, reminding him of Captain Levi’s wrath and how Eren will be made to clean their dorms very soon for the stunt he pulled outside the walls, earlier that day.
Shaking his head, he grabs the boy by his nape, pulling his face closer towards his, their faces inching and tugging, breathing in the same air, “No, I enjoyed it, brat.” He is rewarded with a bright, shy smile and reddening cheeks. Levi counts that as a victory. A very pleasant victory indeed.
Closing his eyes, Eren inhales the musk and scent of the fresh forest, then the gentle caress of the very lips he has been dreaming of for a very long time. He starts and stares back wide-eyed.
“What? You don’t want it?” Levi susurrates, knowing that Eren will never be able to deny going by the wide, blown-out pupils and bright green eyes turning murky with wantonness. Eyes falling shut, Eren closes the distance between them, proving Levi’s point.
The next couple of days, Levi may or may not have caught some of the squad members gossiping about Captain Levi being held by Titan Eren, well rumour has it the said people were asked clean every dorm, bathroom and even Levi’s boots thrice just out of spite. Eren recalls Jean as one of them, his eyes gleaming with malicious glee. serves his best friend right.