The cadet walked slowly, admiring the pale cloudless dawn as the sky slowly lightened. It was a perfect time to get in some training; peaceful, quiet and lacking the intense summer heat that would grow as the day wore on. The cadet took a deep, appreciative breath and paused.

What was that sound?

Head cocked in concentration the cadet heard it again, the sound of distant laughter. The cadet smiled, anticipating finding the reason for the laughter and rounded the buildings corner only to freeze in terror.

There, in the middle of the courtyard was Captain Levi, laughing so hard he was bent double and gasping for breath.

What the hell has happened? The world has to be ending, thought the stunned cadet. They glanced around, half expecting to see a hoard of titans, or the sky filling with flames and screaming. No, that would be stupid. But the Captain laughing is oddly concerning. Maybe it's a concussion, or the bleach fumes finally getting to him, maybe all the fighting and death has made him crack, or Hanji did something to him, or-

The cadet's thoughts were cut off by a familiar voice

"Captain, please help me" came Jaeger's strained plea from just out of view. The Cadet took a cautious step forward to find Humanities Last Hope hanging upside down from a tree, red-faced and tangled in his own 3DM cables.

"Please Captain, get me down. I can feel the blood rushing to my head, it's making me dizzy" he begged, turning his head to keep eye contact with the Captain as he spun lazily. Captain Levi laughed harder, arms wrapping around his stomach

"How… did you… manage? … knew you… were… stupid brat… how?" he gasped out, tears now streaming down his face.

The cadet stayed for a few more minutes, watching as the Captain would start to calm down only to break into new peals of laughter every time he glanced up at the still spinning Eren, whose pout deepened with every slow rotation.

The cadet left quietly, unsure whether to find the situation funny or sad considering this was apparently what passed for humanity's last hope and strongest warrior.

I knew I should have joined the Garrison thought the cadet with a sigh.

҉

A few hours' later people began to trickle into the dining hall for breakfast. Captain Levi leaned against the wall sipping from a teacup as Eren came in and headed towards a group of his friends.

"Hey Jaeger, how's it hangin'" called one brightly. Eren turned a deep shade of red as behind him Levi choked on his tea and turned to make his way hastily from the room, trailing coughs that sounded suspiciously like laughter.

"Hey, what's wrong with your face? And what's up with the Captain, it sounded like he was coming down with something, and then he left so quickly" noted one innocently as Eren's jaw tightened and his blush deepened.

And so an innocent comment, an unfortunate reaction and a hastily drawn (by Jean) and hastily accepted (by Sasha and Connie) conclusion began a rumour of a romantic affair between the Captain and the Titan.