The sun was setting slowly past the horizon, deep hues of purple and orange straining against the night sky, struggling to maintain their hold on the restless eyes of those who watching from below despite their falling journey into earthen shadows.
Eren lay in a garden field, absently picking at the grass around him, one knee up and the other leg crossed over it, swaying. He let out a heavy sigh. Things had taken quite an interesting turn. It was all so new and confusing. And wondrous. And frail. He resented it, this shrill joy that crept through his being every time he thought back to those moments of absolute chaos, of neglect to his consciousness. And yet, they promised him a quiet peace, beckoned to him with a power like no other.
He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts of fragmented memories.
Clouds, yes. Reclining clouds were nice. An escape. Precious. Like the outside.
"Eren," came a stiff voice from somewhere behind him.
Levi-heichou stood above him, face impassive as he looked down at Eren. "You know you shouldn't be out here unsupervised," he said. His voice sounded distant. Calculating.
"Sorry sir!" Eren uncrossed his legs, brushing the grasses and leaves from his pants as he started to quickly get up. But a hand was placed on his shoulder, holding him down.
Levi brushed the ground with his boot, grimaced, and seated himself carefully beside Eren, hand still on his shoulder.
"Sir … .?"
"Have I dismissed you?" he asked, gaze fixed on the setting sun, now almost gone beyond the wall.
"Well, no, I suppose not," said Eren, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. "But, I thought –"
"My only comment was that you should not be left here unsupervised," he said brusquely. The hand on Eren's shoulder tightened, just by a fraction. Barely perceptible.
Eren smiled, also just by a fraction, and turned to watch the sun pass it's final journey for the day.
They remained there long after the stars had come to infiltrate the night sky, Eren with his head resting against his heichou's shoulder, snoring, and Levi looking down on him with something a little more than vague disinterest.