A/N: this isn't really set anywhere specific in the SnK timeline. i just placed it after Wall Maria's recovery. Just a quick one-shot i typed after seeing a picture on Tumblr.
Rain gushed from the dark clouds above the streets and thunder rumbled. A shot of lightning shattered threw the sky. But that wasn't the spectacle going on tonight on the streets of the newly-recovered Zhinganshina. It had taken five years and a lot of good soldiers to restore the district to what it once was.
Several members of the Scouting Legion, and Commanders Erwin and Nile stood in a circle around two figures-their green cloaks whipping in the stormy winds. The patter of rain against the Maneuver Gear tapped through the air. All the soldiers in the circle had their swords drawn and fixed on the two figures on the center: Levi and Eren.
Eren lay bridal-style in Levi's arms unconscious and wrapped in his captain's cloak. The hood draped down over Eren's eyes and little drops of rain dripped off the wet fabric onto his face. Levi looked across the pavement at Hanji, who also had her swords aimed at the two men even though she clearly didn't want to. She looked jittery and anxious to leave, but like everyone else, she was under strict orders.
A poorly-stifled sob came from behind Levi. He whipped his head around to look behind him. His wet hair twirled with him and sent droplets flying before landing on his forehead. The cry had come from a young girl and Levi recognized her once he saw the red scarf hanging from her neck. Mikasa. Levi's concentrated expression softened slightly when he saw her. He knew she didn't want to be here-with her weapons pointed at her own family-but like Hanji and everyone else surrounding him and Eren, she was under orders.
"Do I have to tell you a third time, Levi?" Nile spoke annoyed, "that Jaeger boy is a threat to humanity. We got back Zhinganshina and he did his job. The deal was that you Scouting Legion people got him, and then you'd accomplish whatever mission you wanted him for. Well now he's done his job and the brass want him...so hand him over!"
Levi turned his head back to face Nile. Even though he didn't realize it, Levi tightened his grip on Eren and narrowed his eyes at Nile. The young boy flinched but didn't wake up.
"He just saved your ass, Nile! I'd be a little more grateful if I were you," Levi wasn't giving Eren up anytime soon. Now he was just buying time with a shouting match.
"He's been out cold for a day and a half! Hmm...Levi, how do you know he isn't already dead?!" Nile's voice was heavy with sarcasm.
"Well I'm sorry to prod, but if you had just spent a week in a Titan fighting to recover Wall Maria, I'd think you'd be a little tired to!"
Erwin spoke up, " Levi, I know that this is hard. We've all become attached to Eren in some way. I don't want to let him be handed over and executed, but I have no choice. The brass ordered him handed over," he sounded like a father trying to comfort a child rather than a military leader trying to force a surrender.
"How can you not want Eren executed after all the bloodshed that came from trying to protect him?" Nile was condescending at best and Levi was visibly tensing, "I mean...he is technically responsible for the death of your squad. Oh, and let's not forget what's-her-name...Petra, was it? Isn't it Eren's fault that her corpse is rotting in the middle of nowhere?"
A couple of gasps and various whisperings arose from the ring of soldiers. Levi took a deep breath and walked over to Mikasa before handing Eren off to her. She returned her swords to her Maneuver Gear and took her adoptive-brother's arm over her shoulder. Levi stood there for a second and let what had just happened soak in. Though he appeared cool and collected on the outside, on the inside he was a sweltering ball of somber fury.
The captain turned and walked towards Nile. His boots making quiet splashes in the puddles as his pace gradually quickened until he was up to almost a jog. When he was a few feet away from the commander, he raised his arm. When Levi was about a foot away from Nile, his fist flew forward. A solid punch square on the commanders jaw knocked him flat on his back. A couple soldiers giggled quietly as Nile pushed himself up onto his elbows.
Levi ran a hand through his sopping hair, "don't you ever say her name again. A groveling pig like you will only soil it."
He walked back to Mikasa and took Eren up in his arms again. Eren's eyelids fluttered and he moaned quietly. She tugged on Levi's sleeve as he was walking away.
"Please, Eren might wake up soon...and he's already woken up once with swords pointed at him wanting to kill him...don't let it happen again," Mikasa pleaded formally.
Levi nodded for her to follow him. They walked out of the ring and headed for the nearest building. Levi paused in front of Nile, who was now standing back by Erwin trying to pop his jaw back.
"No matter who gives the order...I'm not handing Eren over. Tell that to the brass."