It was yet an early morning but Eren couldn't sleep again. He tried really hard to because he knew that there was only half an hour left before he will have to get up for training. It was almost 6 a.m. After getting nervous on himself and rolling over the bed he finally gave up and just stared into the ceiling. 'Damnit! I will be tired again' He looked at the clock. 5:47. He sighed and made a strange noise similar to a growl. 'There's no point for trying to sleep now anyway, is there?' Another sigh. He sat down and let his feet touch the cold floor which made him frown a bit. He decided to try to find something to cheer him up a bit. Yet, he couldn't find anything. This put him just into even worse mood. 'Sleep. Sleep is what'd make me happier.' He was tired and didn't want another training or very strict cleaning for the rest of the day. He may want to kill some titans… but that was also out of question right now. Suddenly some tears came to his eyes and he just wanted someone to hug him and let him know that it's going to be better. But there was only wind blowing through the window. It was really cold in the room. One tear dropped on his cheek. 'Fuck it, Eren! What is wrong with you?' He strongly wiped it off and clenched his fists. 'Great, just another wonderful day coming.' 'Everything will be better. It must be.' He said to himself. From this train of thoughts a loud knock pulled him out.

"Eren? I hope you're awake. Let's go for breakfast." – That was Armin's voice standing behind the doors. He waited some time and repeated the name of his friend. Then the doors opened slowly. – "There you are!" – He smiled warmly. He looked really happy with his big eyes and childish smile.

"Yes. I was just changing my clothes." – The taller seventeen years old responded, what made Armin look a little bid abashed.

"Oh, yes, of course." – He looked down and started moving slowly in the canteen's direction. "You know what I would like to eat? Oranges! I've never eaten them. But now for breakfast, of course. Right now I'd eat some good meat. Or at least some meat… it doesn't have to be good." – He sighed. – "I was sleeping really great tonight. I dreamt about wide opened meadows and clear blue sky. It was amazing Eren." – The blond guy couldn't stop talking and Eren just silently walked next to him. Wondering whether his friend really doesn't see his bad mood and probably red eyes or just chose to ignore it. He needed just one sentence from the person that he care about – Are you alright? That was it. Is that too much to ask for? He'd known then, that someone cares. Eren heard Armin asking him some questions but he didn't even response because the blond friend just kept on talking.

They entered the canteen. Which wasn't that crowded as Eren expected. He wondered why? Because it was still too early? Or the opposite – everyone has already eaten? He walked blindly to the table he always took.

"Are you alright, Eren?" – Some voice pulled him out of his thoughts. His heart skipped a bit and his pupils dilated. 'What? W-w-what?' He couldn't believe his ears. It took him one long moment that this sentence was directed to him. He slowly turned around just to see Corporal Levi standing in front of him.

"You look really pale, brat." – Levi shook his head a bit as if he wanted to say – you didn't sleep well again, did you? You'll finish yourself like this.

Eren just stood there with his mouth open. He immediately felt so happy that this made his eyes watery again.

"I-I am fine, now, Corporal." – He finally answered with higher voice than expected.

"…Great." – Levi gave him a doubtful long gaze from his feet to the top of the head. – "Don't spend too much time here. We have a lot of work to do." – His face changed again form a little concerned to completely strict. – "Everyone! 6:15 in front of the building or I'll kick your asses that you will never sit again!"

"Yes, Sir!" – The whole canteen responded loudly.

When Levi left without saying anything else, Eren couldn't stop thinking about what just happened. He could feel his heart giving him warmth like he hasn't felt for a really long time. He smiled a little bit. He didn't know if it was right to think… if he's bold enough to think… if it's okay to think that… '…he cares about… me…?'

He suddenly laughed in his mind. That was so ridiculous! That even amusing. He's Corporal Levi. It's the last thing that he does – care about people. But still the event did take place and repaired Eren's mood drastically.

Eren sat down in the same table with his two closest friends: Armin and Mikasa. He took one bun and just stared at it blindly. He needed to eat but he just somehow couldn't focus at that moment. Mikasa was silent as always and Armin was talking about the weather.

"So.." – He gently interrupted not really knowing how to finish. – "Corporal Levi, huh?" – He said quietly still starring into the bun. He heard Armin stopped talking and he felt the sight of both friends on his face. 'Shit. What am I doing?' He didn't really think it through. His heart skipped and he blush gently. – "We all hate him, don't we?" – He faked a laugh. That was the only think which came to his mind that could help him go through his awkward beginning.

"No. The thing is – he hates us all." – Mikasa responded shrugging. – "We all went through hard times… most of us. But he thinks that only he has the right to take it out on others." – She said with a slow and monotonic voice.

"Yeah… maybe you're right. But still… we don't know him very well." – Said Eren finally deciding on taking an eye contact with a friend.

"And you think this is the excuse for him?" – Her voice become more annoyed.

"Well… I just said that…"

"You're the one who said "we all hate him", Eren. Why are you now defending him? Don't you remember already what he!?... " – She put down unfinished bread and sighed quietly. – "Whatever." – She quickly got out of the room without looking back.

But she was right. Eren thought. 'I really have no idea what's gone into me.'

"What was that between you two?" – Armin asked shy.

Eren shrugged. "With Mikasa you never know" – He felt bad for saying that, especially that he knew that the blame was on him.

It was almost 6:15. Finally he didn't eat anything. At least Armin was full.

"So, everyone! Some of you are 23 seconds late! But there will be additional exercises for everyone without exception!" – Levi didn't shout but his voice was steady, strong and confident. No one say a thing or a sigh. Some frown faces turned to Eren and Armin but they just acted as if they didn't see it.

After 3 hours of exhausting training on their machines they finally had some brake to catch up their breaths. Fortunately the day was windy so it was easier to work and even it even rained for at least half an hour.

"Some of you did great today but unfortunately, it's still not over. I'll make groups now for our practical training outside the building." – Levi said calmly looking through all gathered. At their exhausted and almost bended postures and sweaty faces. Somehow this gave him pure satisfaction. That the training is working and that it will eventually bring profits. He gave Eren longer look when he knew the kid wasn't able to see it. As for 3hours training the boy looked good. Too good. Levi saw himself in this kid and felt some strange and unknown feelings when he was around. Like if he wanted to become a better person, somehow. 'You pussy.' He scolded himself in mind. He tried to focus and started making groups.

Levi already said all names but Eren still hasn't heard his. Somehow it made him nervous and he constantly stepped his feet. As everyone already knew their groups they just dispersed and started preparing equipment. Eren nervously came up to Levi after no one was left.

"Egmh… Corporal… what about.. m"

"You go with me." – He just stated and turn his back. 'This boy. He will be my doom. What is wrong with me? Why can't I leave him alone?'

'What should I think about this?' Eren stood there awkwardly. 'You go with me.' This sentence resonated in his whole body and echoed in his ears. 'Should I feel special about this?' He was really confused.

"Oi, Eren! Are you planning to stay like this forever?" – Levi shouted not even turning his head back.

"I'm sory."

"So stop feeling sorry and move." – Levi wanted to sound harsh and with anger which worked out perfectly.

"Yes, Sir!" – The boy came after Corporal as soon as possible, just to put his equipment back on and run into the woods together.

The silence between them was overwhelming, at least for Eren. 'Should I say something? Say what? Say something! Now! Anything! No… not just anything. Talking about weather would be just stupid. Say something you little shit, you're probably boring him to death. And you thought he liked you?' The rude voice in his mind was going crazy. It almost felt like there were another personality. Eren was fighting his thoughts like a maniac.

"Eren…" – Levi started stopping on a bench and folding his arms. He looked at the kid who was still panting trying to catch a breath. He couldn't stop thinking how adorable this looks. Levi was facing those unwanted feelings so often lately. The thought that he felt… something, towards this brat made him feel nauseas. But this brat, this fucking brat had something he just couldn't explain. He just couldn't stay away from him but surly knew how wrong this was. He had to make sure that Eren will never notice that. – "You know I took you with me just to – be with you – to keep you on a leash?"

Eren hesitated. 'What was that supposed to mean!? Why are you even saying me this?' His small and shy thoughts about this man caring about him disappeared as quickly as they showed up.

"Yes… I guess."

"Good." – Levi saw confusion on a boy's face and somehow regretted those words. Sudden noise coming from Eren's empty stomach stopped another silent moment. Levi sighed. – "Why are you doing this, Eren?" – Levi looked angry.

"I-I'm sorry." – Eren responded quickly. 'Why do you care about my health anyway? Huh, Levi? What the hell is going on in your brain?'

"Stop apologizing for fuck's sake and just eat properly your breakfast next time." – Levi said with a hiss in his voice.

"Well… I didn't have too much time till 6:15, did I?" – Eren just got angry. He knew he should got used to Corporal's strict character but this recent change of moods just confused him too much.

This sudden, bold answer both shocked him and amused. He tried so hard not to smile.

"Oh. I get it. I am the one to blame. Maybe I should apologize?" – Levi said not hiding a sarcasm.

Eren looked at him not sure how to take this. He really wanted to avoid any punches form Corporal this time. Eventually he just didn't response. Levi sat down and let his legs swing. Eren just did the same.

"Eren…" – Levi started once again. – "You said earlier that you don't hate me… do you think I hate you?" – He asked confidently also moving a little away from the kid because he could almost feel his warmth and his beating heart what was really distracting.

Eren was shocked both from the question and the little movement of Levi. 'Why? Am I that repulsive to you?' This thought popped up in his mind with a speed of a rocket.

"I-I'm not sure. I hope you don't."

Levi smirked. What was that what he wanted to hear? He wasn't sure but again that just felt too adorable for him and his heart skipped. 'I hope you don't'. This sentence was good. It was like a honey. He could heart it over and over. 'Wouldn't be better if this boy actually hated me? If this is never going to happen anyway, it would be less painful'. He thought. 'Damn it, I can't only look at myself. This boy is trapped in my hands. He is also probably afraid of me too. I took almost his all life away. And still keeping him next to my side no matter if he wants it or not. He's just here because I told him to go.' That was really sad news.

"We should get going" – Levi ordered.

"Really? It's not even noon yet."

"So? You're hungry and I'm already tired of you." – Levi lied with his heart clenched. Please stay.

Auch. Great. So that's the whole story. Eren's mind wanted to explode. Levi was his idol. There was no doubts about it. And the way he sometimes decided to treat him special made him feel some butterflies in his stomach. Every and each time Levi showed like he cared this feeling only got stronger. But in such moments he felt like he really knew nothing about the man. 'Does he hate me? He doesn't give a single fuck about me? Why do I care so much?' That was scaring him to death.

Suddenly there could be heard a loud rustle so close to them that Eren thought for a second he's falling down. Everything happened so quickly. Levi noticed a titan walking at least 50meters next to them. He quietly and swiftly hid behind the tree and uncontrollably he put his right hand on the higher part of Eren's tight just to keep him still, nothing more. He didn't even look when he was placing. Eren gasped and froze.

"Shhh…" – He whispered not even turning head to the boy. Still looking from behind the tree. – "Not this time you asshole" – He whispered again in a titan's direction not moving for even an inch waiting for the unexpected guest to pass by. Which happened after around two minutes. Levi exhaled all the air he was holding back. He was prepared to make a move if the titan noticed them but in that moment he was pretty far away so he hoped to stay it like that.

"Corporal…" – Eren said with an awkwardly changed voice. His skin was burning in the place Levi touched him and he couldn't stop feeling all the shivers up and down his spine. 'Fuck! Put it together Eren! He's a guy!' But he couldn't explain to his body which did whatever it wanted to. – "Your hand". – He finished and at this moment Levi turned around to see where it was.

He inhaled air embarrassingly loud and took his hand up as form the boiling water. There was a silence again. 'Fuck.' It was the only thing that came across Levi's mind. He got really red which he felt with the blood pumping from his cheeks. He turned his head as soon as possible. He was trying to calm down although his whole body was paralyzed.

"Don't get too excited about it, kid" – He laughed with his best-fake-laugh he owned. But his palm and fingerprints in the right hand were just literally burning. He couldn't stop picture his hand on Eren's tight in his mind. His mind were going crazy and couldn't stop picturing higher and higher parts of his body getting even more red on his face. 'It's just a kid for a fuck's sake!'

"Corporal I can take over myself, you know." – Eren sound perfectly normal back again although still, this incident looked odd to him.

"Mhm, of course" – Levi couldn't even listen his companion. The blood in his ears was just too hot and loud. He tried to get up as soon as it gets but in that very moment he felt a hand grasping his wrist. He uncontrollable turned his head to Eren.

Eren gasped quietly as he saw his face. 'Is it that bad?' Levi thought.

"Corporal… what happene…?" – He didn't even had time to finish the question as he got really strong punch in a face. That hurt. He couldn't feel a thing on his face and he could have sworn he lost all his teeth.

"Who gave you the right to touch me?" – Levi said with his voice steady again. He put himself together thanks to the punch he gave and freed his wrist away.

"Well… I could ask you the same." – Eren responded boldly even expecting another punch but there wasn't this time. – "What is your deal Corporal?!" – Eren shouted. His tongue loosen as if he had at least five shots. – "You can punch me as much as you want. Kill me, if you want but tell me what is this all about? Do you hate me after all? Don't pity me, just say it!"