Levi felt his heart sink as the judge banged down his gavel. He'd just set the trial date for Eren and he could tell that his decision was already made.

"He wouldn't pre-judge him would he?" Levi could've smacked himself for thinking that. Of course he would.

When you live in a constant state of fear you automatically do everything in your power to ensure that you survive and that means killing off a potential threat that could prove to be catastrophic if it all went south.

Erwin shot him a look as if he were reading his thoughts and slightly shook his head. Levi tightened his jaw and resumed his natural look of bored aloofness.

Couldn't have him questioning the judge now could they? No, that wasn't in his job description. He turned to leave. He'd talk to Erwin about it later and hopefully they could come up with a plan to save Eren. Again.

Levi ground his teeth together for what felt like the hundredth time that day. Another fight had broken out among the troops again. If this keeps up we won't have anyone left to fight off what's left of the Titans.

He quickly defused the situation by tripping one of the guys and punching the other straight in his jaw. He stared down at them in contempt then told them to get back to work.

Levi glanced up and his eyes locked onto a pair of big teal eyes that quickly looked away from his. He wished he hadn't done that, they were the prettiest pair of eyes he'd ever seen. They made him imagine that the ocean may have been of similar color and reminded him of his favorite bottled cleaning spray. He loved how they sometimes changed with his mood. Going from a perfect blend of green and blue to a much darker, richer color when his determination shown through.

Eren was wondering around with Mikasa again and Levi felt a stab of jealousy as she laughed at something he said.

He knew he shouldn't have these feelings but he couldn't help it. He'd been in love with Eren for a while now. He often found himself wondering just when it had been that he'd fallen for him. Maybe it had been when he'd first seen his sleeping face after he'd been pulled from his Titan body. A small smile that was barely noticeable unless you knew him flitted onto his face. His first thought had been,"That little thing is what's causing all of this trouble?"

His smile turned wry. On the other hand he'd only been fascinated with him at the time. Maybe it occurred when he and his troop had been up in the mountains trying to figure out just what it was that activated Eren's titan powers. They'd spent a lot of time together just talking at the most random of times especially when they first got there and had to clean out their temporary living space.

He lightly shuddered at the memory of caked filth covering everything. If they hadn't cleaned it to his specifications he felt that someone may have ended up with a disease.

He was kicked out of his thoughts by a low chuckle that turned his lightening mood sour. Mikasa was gently smiling at something Eren must have said and was currently touching his upper arm.

He looked away, silently cursing her for touching him so casually. If anything it should have been him, not that he ever would. He was a private person and his business was his business but he would by no means hide his relationship. It just wasn't for the eyes of everyone else. Levi turned and silently launched himself into the sky. Today was not the day to get into all of this.

XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX

Levi stood at the top of some building he was pretty sure used to be a chapel, watching the sunset. It really was quite beautiful. It had been so long since he'd sat and watched one.

His ears perked up, the telltale sound of metal scraping against iron wire alerted him to someone recklessly approaching him. The tension drained out of his body when he realized it was Eren.

"I wonder what he wants...?"

Levi watched him from the corner of his eye. "What?" Eren looked a little startled at the venom laced into his words. The tentative smile he began to approach Levi with turned into a scowl. He turned to face the sunset.

"Nothing, just thought you'd want some company is all." Levi remained silent, neither accepting him nor pushing him away.

They were silent for a while. Levi reveling in the fact that he was in such close proximity of his secret infatuation and Eren wondering how best to approach a question that's been weighing on his mind for a few weeks now.

"Levi, can I ask you something?" Levi felt a shiver run down his spine when Eren said his name. He usually called him Captain. He didn't know whether or not to be happy or upset that he would disregard the set formalities between ranks so he settled for being slightly intrigued.

He grunted his consent, not sure if he was really going to answer. "Have you been okay lately?" Levi raised an eyebrow, the only thing showing his surprise before his face went passive again. That was the last thing he would've thought Eren would ask.

The silence stretched on into a lengthy pause. Really, how did he feel? Tired, overworked, forever wanting something that he couldn't have. Other than that he was just peachy.

"What makes you ask?

Eren shrugged. "You just seemed troubled is all. Like you've had a lot on your mind." Eren turned his piercing gaze to him and frowned as if he were trying to figure him out.

Levi faced him head on and stared him right in the eyes. He was surprised by what he saw there. He usually prided himself on his ability to read people but now he was uncertain. He saw concern, nervousness, and a hint of something else that he couldn't quite put his finger on. He knows hes seen it before but he wasn't sure what it was.

It took him a second to pick up his train of thought. "I'm fine. Just needed a break." Eren took a step closer. "Are you sure? You've been kind of spaced out."

Levi sighed in agitation. Eren was getting way to close. "Shouldn't you be out with your girlfriend or something?" The level of bitterness in his voice caught even him off guard.

Eren blinked in surprise. "Girlfriend? You mean Mikasa?" He doubled over laughing, clutching at his stomach making Levi stiffen. He did not enjoy being laughed at.

He turned to leave and find a quieter place. Eren grabbed him. "Wait wait wait, i'm sorry. He grinned, It's just so hard to imagine me and Mikasa as a couple. I mean she's more of a sister to me, way to protective, and besides we both have...different preferences." He trailed off on the last bit.

Levi blinked in surprise and looked at Eren over his shoulder. "What do you mean 'different preferences' ?"

His heart seemed to speed up at the prospect that maybe, just maybe, he could have a chance at getting Eren.

Eren let go of his superiors sleeve and looked down, a faint blush dusting his cheeks. "N-Nothing. I mean Mikasa is interested in someone else a-and so am I."

Levi realized that the look he saw in Eren's eyes earlier was lust. If this really was what Levi thought it was then maybe they could both go home happy.

He fully turned to face him. "And who might that be?"

"Well...my special someone is a man but I don't think he'd return my feelings." He looked down at his feet. Levi took a step towards him so they were now practically 5 inches away from each other . "How do you know? Your being an idiot for not asking. If i've learned one thing from living on this hellish earth it's that life is too short to beat around the bush. A Titan could come and kill you at any given moment and you would die without doing everything you've wanted to do."

Eren looked up at Levi and searched his eyes. He must have found what he was looking for because in the next instant he leaned forward and kissed him for all he was worth.

Levi didn't know how long they stayed like that. All he remembered was pulling Eren closer and deepening the kiss.

After what seemed like hours, but what could've only been minutes, they both pulled away and stared at each other. Eren's face turned bright red. "I'm so sorry captain I didn't mean to kiss you I was just-" He faltered when Levi kissed him again, effectively shutting him up.

He smiled, "I've been wanting to do that for some time now." Eren chuckled and sat down, pulling Levi with him so he could lean against him.

XXXXXX

After a while Eren yawned and sleepily tilted his head up and kissed the underside of Levi's jaw to get his attention. "What are we going to tell everyone?" Levi thought for a second. "It's none of their business but if they must know then we simply tell them that we decided to date."

Eren hummed in agreement.

"But you have to tell Mikasa."

"Mmhmm...wait what?!"

Eren nervously entered his home and saw Mikasa sitting by the fireplace deep in thought.

"H-Hey Mikasa...I have something to tell you...