It was an ardent relationship from the start; it started with a brutal beating, an unspoken agreement, and unwavering admiration. Levi Heichou was his idol. He was Humanity's Strongest. He symbolized everything the Scouts were, To Eren; Levi was the physical embodiment of the Wings of Freedom. Needless to say he was thrilled when the Scout Regiment played their cards right and had Eren handed over to them as a full-fledged member. Hell he was ecstatic when he learned he would be Levi's new charge. It seemed like Eren's dreams were all coming true.
"Eren, do you resent me?"
To Eren, the question was ludicrous. Levi Heichou was his hero, his idol, and Eren doubted anything could change his opinion of his commanding officer. Granted, when he first met Levi, he was a bit surprised. The man was smaller than he imagined. He wore an expressionless face and had a monotone voice to match. But after the battle of Trost, Eren saw the wings of freedom on Levi's back and he felt respect swell in his chest.
Levi Heichou was harsh, and harsher than many of the other officers Eren had encountered. However, Eren took his cruel words with grace, and his bright eyes never wavered. Upon realizing Levi's obsession for cleanliness, Eren laughed and promised himself he would mend his sloppy ways. When Levi Heichou would administer swift kicks to his legs when he acted out, Eren would grow flustered and angrily mumble, but he would correct himself none the less. Eren wanted to please his Corporal. He knew Levi regarded him as a disobedient dog that needed training, and Eren wanted desperately to change his mind. Eren craved the older man's approval and he was willing to do anything to get it.
He started with his training. Eren had graduated in the top fifteen of his class, and he was eager to outshine the other soldiers in his unit. He began training extra hard, and managed to kill more practice Titans than everyone in Squad Levi, save for Levi himself. At the end of training Eren ran up to his Corporal with childlike innocence.
"Heichou, Heichou did you see me out there? I think I did pretty well today!" Eren exclaimed.
"Lousy brat, just because you had one good day everyone should pet you on the head and congratulate you? Tch," Levi spat in response.
When that failed, Eren focused on his Titan training, and experiments with Squad Leader Hanji. He became increasingly better at generating his Titan form without losing complete control. He allowed Hanji to collect valuable insight on other Titan weak points and Titan structure. Eren reluctantly agreed to bodily samples, and they discovered Titan blood and saliva wouldn't evaporate if collected. Hanji was beyond ecstatic and praised Eren to no end. When she inquired why Eren frowned despite her praise, he told her he was seeking to impress Corporal Levi, and even got Hanji to boast on his behalf.
"Levi, hey Levi, come here for a second!" Hanji excitedly called as she flagged him down after lunch.
"What is it shit glasses?"
"I have made some valuable discoveries about Titan biology and—"
"Your point?" Levi responded with a steely gaze.
"Well it's just that Eren's been doing a good job. You should praise him a bit, maybe go easier on him?" Hanji suggested on Eren's behalf.
"Tch, I'll bet the brat put you up to this?" Levi deadpanned, and with that the conversation ended.
Next, Eren focused on a skill he knew his Corporal would praise him for. He began honing on his cleaning skill. Eren woke up earlier than he needed to and began his duties. His mopped the floor until it was spotless. When he was done he wiped all the windows until they shined. Eren even found enough time to go down the kitchen and help the other new recruits make breakfast. He was currently cracking eggs and whisking them in a bowl.
"Eren, you look exhausted," Mikasa said with a worried tone. She reached out to touch Eren's cheek and frowned, "You have bags under your eyes. Is that midget working you too hard? Do you want me to say something?"
"Ugh, no Mikasa, Heichou isn't working me too hard. Please do not say anything," Eren mumbled as he started frying the eggs.
"You got up hours ago and cleaned the entire castle! Now you're fixing breakfast, don't you think that's a little too much?" Armin chimed in as he made pancakes.
"No Armin don't say such things! Eren can make breakfast if he wants to! In fact, let Eren make the hash browns, Connie always burns them," Sasha said staring at the potato she was peeling lovingly.
This elicited an angry 'Hey!' out of Connie. Eren angrily let out a breath and blew his chocolate brown bangs out of his eyes. He finished the eggs and began fixing Heichou his morning tea. Two scoops of tea and a tablespoon of honey, half a teaspoon of sugar, no more, no less. Eren mesmerized exactly how Levi liked his tea. He wanted to give his commanding officer a little more incentive to praise him. He secretly hoped to see a gleam of happiness in his superior's cold gray eyes.
"Give it a rest; he's just trying to suck up to Levi. I don't see why not, the guy hates him," Jean called as he walked into the kitchen with an arm full of apples. Under his breath he murmured, "And I hate him too."
Eren slammed down the spoon he was using to stir the tea, "Heichou doesn't hate me," he snapped.
"Sure he does," Jean laughed as he sat at the table and kicked his feet up, "Why else would he beat on you so much?"
"I agree man, he uses you like a punching bag," Connie added.
"Connie stop talking and stop burning the potatoes!" Sasha whined, "and I agree Eren, Heichou does kind of hate you. He calls you a dog, a shitty brat, and a montser."
Mikasa glared at their friends angrily and gave Eren a comforting look, "Eren, who cares if the shorty hates you? He's an arrogant old man. We don't hate you and that's all that matters. We're you're friends."
"Mikasa," Eren groaned, "don't talk about Heichou like that!"
Armin walked up to the group and smiled, "I don't think he hates you Eren. Remember how he pulled that stunt during court so you could join the Scouts? He even personally volunteered to monitor you. I don't think he hates you at all, in fact, he'd probably never say it, but I'll bet that he's actually proud of you."
Eren smiled and hugged his two best friends. Even if they pained him sometimes, they always knew what to say to cheer him. Armin was smart, and if Armin said that Heichou didn't hate him then he believed him. All he needed to confirm that was Heichou's praise.
"Oi, what are you shitty brats doing it here?" Levi's voice boomed as he walked into the kitchen, "You letting shit burn again?"
Upon hearing the angry voice of the shorter man, everyone jumped up and gave a hasty salute. Despite his small stature, Levi left all the soldiers shaking in their boots. Nobody wanted to get on Levi's bad side, after witnessing his angry treatment of Eren. Sasha saluted with a halfheartedly peeled potato in her hand and Connie let the hash browns fly out of the pan as he gave his salute. Jean nearly fell over as he struggled to stand, and Armin began sweating nervously. As hugging trio broke apart Mikasa shot Levi her normal glare. Eren maintained his wide eyed look of admiration and his toothy grin.
Levi squinted and began scanning the room, his eyes cut to the trio as he saw them break apart, "What the hell are you fuckers doing in here? Springer, you're burning the food again. Blouse, you undoubtedly have harbored goods in your jacket. Kirstein, you were just laying around like the lazy little shit you are. And Ackerman, Arlert, and Jaeger," he began walking to the trio, "You shitty brats are over here having a love fest."
Levi angrily reached out and pulled Eren's ear. He administered a quick kick to Eren's gut. Eren gasped and doubled over on the ground. Armin and Jean quickly jumped to restrain a very angry Mikasa. Eren quickly turned to Mikasa and mouthed a desperate, 'Stop', before Levi could notice her. Mikasa reluctantly calmed down but shot daggers at the Corporal.
"You little shits get back to work, we have a long day ahead of us. I don't want anyone slacking off. Jaeger, you follow me," Levi said as he dragged Eren by his jacket, not giving him a choice in the matter.
Levi dragged Eren into an empty hall and dropped him. He tapped his foot impatiently and Eren hurriedly scrambled to his feet and stood up. He straight as a board with his arms pinned down to his side. Eren nervously looked down at the shorter man and held his breath. Levi lifted his leg and kicked Eren in the stomach. He held his leg up as he glared up at Eren, much to his annoyance.
"Just what the hell do you think you're doing Jaeger?" Levi demanded.
"S-sir? What do you mean?" Eren stammered.
"You're going around messing with Arlert and Ackerman. Don't deny it, I've seen you hugging them and standing close to them," Levi hissed.
"W-well yes Corporal, they're my friends Sir!" Eren squeaked as Levi dug his foot into Eren's stomach.
"Friends?" he echoed.
"Yes Sir, Armin is my childhood friend and Mikasa is my sister," Eren said holding his hands up.
"Friends…" he echoed again. "Are you screwing any of them? I know Ackerman's your adoptive sister and I've seen how possessive she is. Arlert too. I hope you know relationships between subordinates and superiors are forbidden. Being in my squad, you are their superiors," Levi said as his glare pierced Eren's soul.
Eren shrunk and murmured something incoherent. His cheeks turned light pink.
"Speak up dog!" Levi commanded.
"I said I'm not screwing them! I'm not screwing anyone!" Eren yelled cheeks flushed a brilliant red, "I-I'm a virgin Sir."
"A virgin? Is that so?" Levi asked, dropping his foot, "Don't lie to me, I know you hormonal new recruits fuck each other like rabbits on your spare time."
"W-well some of them do, but not me Sir," Eren said, nearly dying from embarrassment.
"Really?" Levi questioned once more, piercing Eren with his hard gray eyes.
"Yes Sir!" Eren squeaked, still embarrassed.
"It better stay that way," Levi said in a threatening tone.
"Yes Levi Heichou," Eren said with a salute.
"Very well then, carry on," and with that, Levi turned on his heel and walked away.
He left behind a red and flustered Eren. His heart was pounding wildly.
After their early morning encounter, Levi ignored Eren all day. In fact, Eren would go so far as to say his Corporal was purposely avoiding him. Eren was confused by his actions. Albeit, Eren was embarrassed by their talk, but he didn't want his Heichou ignoring him. He'd glad endure it again if Levi would stop ignoring him. Did Levi really hate him after all? Eren spent the day dragging his feet and half assing his work. What was the point if Levi Heichou wasn't there to judge him?
Erd and Gunter shot his questioning looks, and Auruo huffed and called him 'a whiny brat'. Petra tried to console Eren and give him a pep talk, but Eren waved them all off.
"I'm fine guys, really," Eren muttered.
At dinner, Eren got drilled again by all his friends. They were shocked that their usually jovial friend was so reserved and quiet. They continued to pester him when all Eren wanted to do was replay the last conversation he had with Levi. Mikasa held his hand and petted him soothingly while Jean mocked him.
"What's wrong Jaeger, you miss Heichou kicking your ass?" Jean laughed as he leaned back in his chair.
Connie snickered behind his hand and Sasha let out a snort chuckle with her mouth still full of food. Armin looked at Eren sympathetically and smiled.
"Eren, please tell us what's wrong?" Mikasa pleaded softly.
"Look it's nothing," Eren replied as he pushed around his carrots.
"Doesn't sound like nothing," Sasha answered, unknowing spitting a bit of potato on Jean.
"Ugh, I just…" Eren began.
"Go on," Mikasa urged.
"I just want Heichou's approval. He's my hero, my idol, and I just wish he would notice me and maybe give me a little bit of praise. On top of that, he's been ignoring me all day!" Eren huffed, decidedly keeping the awkward conversation between him and Levi to himself.
"Why? Who cares if he's ignoring you? Eren's he's just a pompous old man who thinks he's special. You don't need his approval. You're already great," Mikasa said with darkened eyes.
"Yeah, you're Humanity's Last Hope, and you're a great soldier," Armin added.
"You don't understand! Heichou doesn't hate all of you like he hates me."
"Ooohh, so that's what this is about? You want Heichou to like you," Jean said leaning closer to Eren.
"Yes," Eren agreed, not catching Jean's tone of voice.
"You like Heichou and you want him to like you too so you can have titan shifting midget kids?" Jean taunted.
"What?" Eren cried, blushing, "N-no it's not like that!"
"Eren and Heichou sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Connie and Jean sang.
"No! It's not like that!" Eren protested.
"First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes—"
"Enough!" Mikasa yelled as he pounded her fists on the table, "Stop teasing him. You know that's not true, right Eren?"
"Y-yeah," Eren muttered, cheeks still painted red.
Eren stood up and murmured goodnight to everyone. He ran to his room in the dungeon and sank onto the bed. His heart was racing. Eren struggled to catch his breath as he clutched his pillow. He felt a tickling in his stomach when his friend began teasing him. He didn't like Heichou, in that way… Levi was his role model, nothing more. Right?
Eren liked the way his Corporal carried himself with complete confidence. The man had a commanding aura that no one could challenge. But that didn't mean anything right? He admired Heichou, so it wasn't a big deal. He just wanted Heichou to like him, not for any particular reason, he just wanted to not be seen as a monster in the eyes of his hero. But Eren couldn't deny the fluttering in his heart when he thought of Levi. He couldn't deny the pleasure he took when he received attention from the other man, even if it was a beating. In fact, he didn't mind beatings, not if they were from his Corporal. He cherished any attention his Corporal gave him, even in was negative. What was wrong with trying to please your superior?
Admittedly, Eren did find the older man handsome. Eren loved Heichou's cold gray eyes and wished he could bring light to them. He liked how Levi's black hair contrasted with his ivory skin. Once, Eren had seen Levi take his shirt off after a brutal day of training. His muscles were big, and well defined despite his small stature. Eren's eyes had traced over his chest and tried to memorize every line and every curve, every burn and every scar. When his eyes traced the well-defined V that trailed into his pants Eren faintly recalled wondering what lay beneath his superior's trousers.
As Eren focused on that memory, he felt a tightening in his pants, and his cheeks flushed. Was he getting…aroused? Eren closed his eyes and willed the bulge in his pants to go away. He couldn't think like that! Levi was his hero, nothing more! But as he relaxed in his bed, the butterflies in his stomach increased as he thought of Levi. As he closed his eyes and let sleep take him, he dreamed of his Corporal and felt content.