I
Zoe had requested Levi's appearance in the Survey Corps meeting room. He wasn't sure what Hange wanted, but he got a headache just trying to think about all the possibilities. Hange was so utterly crazy that it could be literally anything with her. Levi had just finished riding on horseback to the castle located outside of the district, where they had spent all day cleaning a few years prior. Levi got off his horse and tied it to a post just outside. He was hoping this would be quick, but noticed the two other horses tied up and knew it was going to be a long day.
Levi knocked on the door to the Survey Corps meeting room. This was the same room Hange had spent hours of the night explaining to Eren all the information they had gained from research about the titans.
Zoe opened the door, letting Levi in.
"How nice of you to join us," Hange greeted as Levi strolled in. Levi noticed Eren sitting at the meeting table, and Eren gave a slight, shy wave. Levi turned to Zoe and stared intently at her.
"'Us'?" Levi repeated with a cringe.
"Oh, was it not clear what my intentions were?" Zoe asked. Levi sighed, placing his hand to his forehead.
"No, it wasn't," Levi grimaced. "You're intentions are never clear, Hange. And you didn't say anything about-" Levi glanced at Eren, who's expression was full of curiosity towards Levi's next words. "-Guests."
Hange clapped her hands together, smiling. "Well, if you must know," She grabbed Levi's wrist and dragged him closer to the table, motioning him to sit down. "I thought that since we're at a time of tranquility from titans, you could get more acquainted with Eren!" Levi sighed and dragged out the chair from the long table. He sat in it, leaning his back low on the backrest and crossed one leg over the other informally. Levi noticed Eren's confused expression, and figured Hange had probably told Eren even less than Levi himself. He sighed and glared over at Zoe.
"Alright, now why don't we start with some 3D Maneuvering?" Zoe beamed as she opened the doors and made her way outside.
"Fine," Levi sighed, getting up once again. "Let's go, Jaeger."
"Come on, boys!" Hange cried a few feet ahead of them. "Keep up!" The horses' hooves thumped against the dirt passage of the forest that surrounded the small stone castle. Levi sucked his teeth in response to Hange's impatience.
"You know, if you want us to bond so much, maybe it'd be a better idea if you left," Levi called out. Zoe laughed and pressed the lever on her handheld device. Two hooks shot out from her sides, and she flew off her horse and into the air. Reluctantly, Levi picked up his own handheld device and looked back at Eren.
"Come on, Eren," Levi said, almost growling. "Let's bond."
As Levi and Eren flew through the air, they didn't catch sight of Zoe anywhere. She was in front of them moments ago, and then suddenly she was gone. Levi was almost certain he could hear her insane laugh somewhere off in the distance, but it didn't even bother him anymore. It just annoyed the shit out of him.
"Come on," Levi called to Eren. "Let's just head back."
"But commander Hange-"
"I'm your commander right now," Levi snapped. "And I say we head back."
"Yessir," Eren cried, following Levi back the way they came.
They found their horses waiting patiently back where they first took lift into the air. The trained horses were property of the Survey Corps, but ever since the calm of titans washed over the districts, it'd been a lot easier to find their horses without worrying about them getting spooked. Eren and Levi hopped up onto their saddles and rode back to the castle leisurely.
"Commander Levi," Eren interrupted the calming silence of the ride. "What, exactly, was the point of that drill?"
"It wasn't a drill, brat." Levi sighed. "It was Commander Hange being an idiot."
"You don't really believe that, do you?" Eren rode next to Levi, looking at his expressionless face. "That Hange's an idiot?"
"Of course I do," Levi replied. "And if you value your life, you would, too." Eren became quiet and didn't meet Levi's stare.
They could see the stone castle in the distance, and noticed Hange's horse hadn't returned. They rode closer and got off their saddles. Levi looked around, but didn't see any trace of Zoe.
"Shit," Levi cursed under breath. "God damnit."
"Where's Commander Hange?"
"She left us here on our own," Levi sighed and tied up his horse once again. But Eren, however, didn't leave his horse's side.
"Shouldn't we go look for her? She could be in danger!"
"This area is completely sealed off from any titans," Levi whirled around and stared at Eren. "She wanted us to spend some of our downtime with each other." Levi crossed his arms and leaned back in a condescending stance. "If we look for her, she'll keep running. If we stay here, she'll get worried, tired or hungry and wander back. So," he turned his back and walked to the castle, opening the wooden doors. "We're staying here." Eren quickly tied his horse and followed after Commander Levi.
"Hey, Jaeger, want some tea?" Levi brought in a tray of steaming cups of black tea. Eren nodded.
"Yes, thank you." He stuck his index finger inside the handle and placed his thumb atop the handle, using his other fingers to support the bottom of the tea cup. Levi, however, held the entire cup by the rim of the glass. He got in the same position as he had before, leaning back with one leg crossed over the other. Eren sipped his tea, trying not to make it obvious he was admiring his corporal. He thought Commander Levi was to calm and cool, always collected and keeping his emotions under check. Eren, on the other hand, was constantly frustrated at how easily he was angered and lost control of his emotions. He often felt as though he was just troubling to his teammates. Eren hadn't even realized he was showing his melancholy emotions, until Levi had called to him.
"Eren," Levi startled him slightly, and Eren flinched. "What's that look on your face?"
"Huh?" Eren supported his tea cup with his other hand. Levi intimidated him a little bit, and his hands felt slightly shaky and weak.
"Just now," Levi took another sip of his tea before speaking, setting the cup on the wooden table afterwards. "You had this look on your face."
"Oh, it's…" Eren felt his face growing hot. How was he supposed to explain it? He was sure Levi didn't want anything to do with him. "Nothing; It's nothing."
"Bullshit," Levi leaned forward on the table, supporting himself with his elbows. Levi's hands were folded in front of him, resting on the dark surface. "Eren, it's my constant responsibility to make sure you're accounted for and taken care of. Are you not feeling well?"
"N-no, no, it's nothing like that," Eren shook his head and carefully set the cup down, adjusting himself in his seat. "It's just, you always seem so calm and collected, and I can never seem to keep my emotions under control."
"Remind me, Jaeger: how old are you?" Levi asked. Eren was surprised by his question. It seemed a bit random.
"U-um, I'm seventeen."
"That's what I thought," Levi took another drink of tea. Eren waited for Levi to add something, but he never did. Then Eren noticed Levi staring at him. Eren could feel his face growing hot, and glaced away from Levi.
"S-so," Eren cleared his throat, trying to steer the conversation away from himself. "How long do you think it'll be before Commander Hange comes back?"
"Dunno," Levi leaned back, crossing his arms. "It could be hours, days, weeks… hell, she could never come back again."
"What?" Eren stared at Levi in shock.
"I'm kidding," Levi raised an eyebrow. "Although knowing her, it's not all that crazy to think about the possibility."
"Oh," Eren leaned back, relaxing. He could never tell whether or not Levi was being serious or joking. He never showed any expression…
"In all seriousness, though, we'll probably be here for a while. Get comfortable, kid. Who knows- by now, she could be outside of Shiganshina. Maybe she fucked a 5 meter titan." Levi sipped his tea, his straight face not even wavering. Eren laughed nervously as he picked up his own cup of tea and sipped from it. It was bitter, but in a tangy, enjoyable way. It was strange.