Chapter Notes:
Yes, there has been a time skip. There will be more time skip until they are reaching adulthood because I think this is necessary for the plot of the fic (yeah, right. 'plot'). The field trip story, enjoy!
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Carla was preparing snacks for her boys who were going on a field trip from school when she heard a shout from Eren on the second floor.
"Levi, hurry, hurry!"
"I'm coming, Eren," There was a faint sound from Levi on the second floor.
"Levi!"
Eren who sounds like he was on fire made Carla smile a motherly smile, he was the bright and hyperactive one. While Levi, on the other hand, was the unique one.
After three years that Levi had been taken into the Jaeger family, celebrating birthdays, New Year, holiday trips, and all things like that, Carla still thinks Levi's mind would be a mystery to her.
Sometimes he was quiet and calm, sometimes he frowned and scowled, sometimes he smiled and giggled, and sometimes she can't even guess what face he's making.
But that's Levi for you, he was unique.
What was even more unique was Levi's relationship with Eren. It was like they were inseparable. Whenever there was Eren, then Levi would also be there and vice versa.
She didn't mind, though. She even thought it was cute and lovely.
Then something startled Carla from her thoughts. Eren suddenly showed up from the living room, tugging on her apron.
"Mom, we're ready. Can we go now?" Eren was grinning at his mother with big green eyes that sparkled with excitement and a mop of a dark chocolate hair that looked hard to tame.
"Is Levi ready, yet?" Her mother turned to him and tried to tame the mop of Eren's hair with her fingers.
"I am ready," Levi suddenly showed up into the kitchen.
"Okay. All set? Sun cream, hats, water bottles, changing of clothes just in case–"
"Yes, yes, everything is set but the snacks," Eren made a grabby gesture with his hands.
Eren was really enthusiastic about the field trip. The 3rd and 4th grade students were going to the ocean and the forest of Shigansina which was located in the next city from here in Sina. They will go to the school first and then they will go by bus from there.
Eren loved to explore nature, so it was obvious that he would act a bit jumpy more than usual.
Carla was handing the boys their snacks and they put it nicely into their backpacks, now totally ready to go and she was about to drop the boys at school for their school field trip.
"Levi, Levi, come on," Eren held Levi's hand and headed to the car.
"Okay, Eren," Levi smiled, following Eren's suit.
The drive to the school was going faster than it usually did. Not because Carla was speeding up, but because Eren kept humming happily during the car ride that made the ride feel faster.
When they arrived, they waved Carla goodbye and joined the other students who arrived earlier than them.
Every year, the elementary students had a field trip with different destinations. But today was special because the 3rd and the 4th graders were having the same destination, although with a different schedule.
Eren and Levi spotted Armin and Mikasa among the other students and were approaching them.
Mikasa was joining the field trip as a 4th grader, and for Armin, last year the blond haired boy successfully jumped to the 2nd grade and, being an advanced student, now was in the same grade as Eren and Levi.
"I'm excited!" Eren jumped up and down happily.
"Lucky, you three are in the same grades, so you can have a field trip together," Mikasa pouted.
"But we have the same destination, maybe we could hang around together during a free time," Armin giggled.
"Different schedule though, I don't know if we have the same free times," Mikasa still pouted.
"The teacher says we are going to have a picnic at lunch, lunchtime is the same," Levi suddenly spoke.
Levi was able to talk casually with Armin and Mikasa now.
At first, whenever they were playing together, Levi was always stiff and would cling to Eren, he was never the most sociable person.
But as time went by and with Eren's encouraging push, he finally started to enjoy himself around Armin and Mikasa, he started to talk and play with them even if it's only sometimes.
"So we eat lunch together?" Mikasa asked after a few moment of silence.
"Okay! Okay! See you at lunch, Mikasaaa~ Promise! " Eren was waving frantically and now dragging Levi to the bus followed by Armin after the teacher announced that they should start to get on the bus based on their grades.
The dark haired girl only smiled and waved back, heading to the other bus.
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"Eren, I'll be sitting here with Connie," Armin pointed at the two seats beside Eren's seat.
"Okay, I'm sorry I can't sit with you, I promised to sit with Levi," Eren said apologetically.
"No biggies," Armin grinned and started talking with Connie about who will be getting the seat near window. Connie was.
"Hey Eren, you wanna sit near the window?" Levi asked after seeing Armin and Connie talk about their seats.
"Can I?" Eren's big green eyes gleamed happily.
"Mhm, sure. I can still see the view from over here so I don't mind."
"You are the best, thank you Levi," Eren beamed with a huge grin, Levi replied with a big smile and a nod.
The trip to the ocean was around 2 hours, the students were enjoying their trip, talking, joking, telling stories, looking at the road side view from the window, and eating their snacks and sharing it to everyone.
The students were having a very good time.
Eren kept singing and humming while enjoying the view along the way. Levi quietly listened to Eren while looking at him with a small smile.
"Levi, are you sleepy?" Eren stopped humming and turned to Levi, wondering why he was the only one who was so quiet during the trip.
"No, I'm just listening to you while looking at the view," Levi said, eyes set on the window.
"Should I sing more? We could sing along," Eren grin and starts singing.
Shalala, it's an exciting road trip~
Shalala, I can't wait to see the ocean~
Shalala, the forest would look lovely~
Shalala~~~
Levi giggled, "Did you just make up that song? I can't sing along with you then," He playfully nudged Eren's shoulder.
"Hehee, but now you know, so let's sing together," Eren turned to Armin's seat, "You guys should sing it too!" He shouts.
"Sing what?" Connie replied while Armin tilted his head to Eren as if asking the same question as Connie.
"The song that I just made!" Eren beamed, "Come on Levi, let's sing it together loudly so they can hear us and can sing along!" He then started singing.
Shalala, it's an exciting road trip~
Shalala, I can't wait to see the ocean~
Shalala, the forest would look lovely~
Shalala~~~
Levi was singing along with Eren shyly and quietly while Eren was singing loud enough for the entire bus to hear.
Armin and Connie were singing along with them and a few other students who heard it also sang along. Even Jean Kirstein, the annoying kid in Eren's class, was singing along.
The teachers and the rest of the other students were happily listening to them, later they named the song as Eren's Road Trip Song.
Not too long after they all started singing together, the view of the ocean came into view. And automatically all of them stopped singing and were looking at the breathtaking view.
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The bus was now parking at the parking lot near the ocean and all the student were getting out from the bus and gathered around nicely while one of the teacher, Mr. Keith Shadis was giving them the details of the schedule and they start the trip.
The first part of the schedule was spent at the Maritime Shigansina's Lab and Aquarium to learn about how animals live in different ocean ecosystems.
Eren and Armin were the most enthusiastic students who learned about this in the lab, especially Armin. All the students were getting excited from the first part of the schedule and enjoying their lesson.
When the students were done with the lesson, they were walking in groups to the next destination.
"The lesson was exciting and the pictures of many ocean zones with the ecosystems were really fun to look at, right Levi?" Eren asked Levi while walking out from the Maritime Shigansina's Lab and Aquarium along with Armin as a group of three.
"Yes, feels different from when you are only looking at it from the television," Levi answered, walking a bit too close in Eren's comfort zone. Eren didn't seem to mind.
Then, Armin mumbled dreamily, "Someday I want to get a job that involves the ocean."
"You will someday. You are smart," Eren said, giving Armin an encouraging pat on the head as they continued on walking.
The second part of the schedule was spent at Shigansina Art Haven's studio to create a habitat model, map the ocean zones, and more.
They still sat in groups. Eren and Levi were mapping the ocean zones and coloring it with water color while Armin was creating a habitat model.
"Armin, your habitat model is really complex, it's kinda awesome," Connie approached him with his other two group mates, Jean and Marco, the horse-face and freckled boy.
"Thank you, what did you guys make?" Armin said cheerfully.
"Jean and I made polar ice art, see," Connie raised his hands, showing the boys their art, "And Marco made a habitat model like you."
Marco showed them his paper, "Still not as good as you, Armin," He said shyly.
"Your habitat model looks so cool, Marco. Unlike Eren's—" Jean who had intended to make fun of Eren's drawing suddenly snapped his mouth shut because Levi was glaring at Jean as if saying 'I dare you to say something bad about Eren, Kirstein'.
"What about me?" Eren pouted while glaring at Jean.
"Yours look amazing, Eren," Levi answered instead of Jean.
"Yours too, Levi," Eren pout turned into a grin and they were happily continuing their art making.
The third part of the schedule was spent at the ocean bay as free time and having snacks before they leave for their next destination, Shigansina forest.
The students happily munched and shared their snacks and played around in the ocean.
After free time was over, they were getting back onto the bus and went to Shiganshina forest for the rest of the day.
The road trip only took 15 minutes since the destination was not too far.
When they arrived, the teachers gave them lunchboxes that the school had provided and then they joined the 4th graders, who had arrived first for a picnic lunch.
Eren was dragging Levi and Armin to eat lunch with Mikasa who was now waving at them while sitting under one of the big trees. Connie asked, half shouting, where they were going but Eren didn't seem to hear him so he shrugged and joined Jean, Marco, and a few other students for a picnic lunch.
"Been waiting long?" Eren asked Mikasa as they were opening their lunch boxes.
"Only a few minutes," She replied with a little shrug.
"Is it okay for you to eat with us? You're not eating with friends from your class?" Armin asked.
"It's fine, we promised to eat lunch together anyway," Mikasa smiled at him then looked at the boys and her own lunchbox, "We get the same food."
"Veggies, meatballs, sandwich, and mashed potatoes," Levi murmured.
"It's yummy!" Eren said after he took a small bite of his sandwich and swallowed it.
"The meatballs too!" Armin followed.
"Mmm, fu ah rah, iwf humih!" Eren said, munching on a meatball.
"Eren, don't talk with your mouth full and eat slowly, you are making a mess," Levi wiped Eren's mouth with his handkerchief, huffing with a small smile, 'Really, after all these years he keeps making a mess while eating,' Levi thought.
Mikasa only smiled at the sight while Armin was giggling. They ate happily while the boys –mostly Eren— told about their activities earlier with Mikasa.
After they finished with their lunch, they were splitting up and joining their own classmates for the last part of the schedule of the school field trip.
The last part of the schedule was spent exploring the Shigansina ecosystem including many different plants and animals.
They explored three habitats –the forest, pond, and prairie— and considered the organism unique to each, like organism function, relationships between organisms and their habitats, and organism survival and adaptation.
The students were having fun and enjoying it until it was time for them to get inside the bus and go back to the school where their parents would pick them up and they would go home.
Eren was talking with Levi while walking out of the forest to the bus when suddenly Levi –whose eyes were only for Eren instead of on the rocky pathway— stumbled on a quite large rock right in front of his foot.
He fell with a loud thud, making his knees bleed and it hurt pretty badly.
Levi was not a crybaby, but it really hurt.
Eren immediately crouched down in front of him, looking at him with concern, "Levi, are you okay?"
Levi looked at him with teary eyes and then nodded slowly, mouth clamped shut trying not to cry.
"Eren what happened?" Armin, who was already walking ahead of them with Connie, Jean, and Marco, ran back to them.
"Levi stumbled on a rock, he is bleeding pretty badly," Eren said while pressing his handkerchief onto Levi's right knee.
Armin pulled out a tissue and pressed it to the other knee, "Levi, hold this. I'll go get Mr. Shadis," Levi pressed down on the tissues while Armin was getting up about to call the teacher.
"No need, Armin could you hold my backpack?" Eren suddenly spoke while handing Armin his backpack which Armin accepted with confusion.
Eren's back was facing Levi, head turned to the black haired boy, "Mr. Shadis is already ahead of us, I'll just carry you to the bus and we will ask him to treat your wounds. Come on," He said with a smile.
"Can you carry me like that?" Levi asked but was already making his move towards Eren's back.
"Rude," Eren huffed, "Now wrap your arms around my neck tightly while I give you a piggy back ride," He said while trying to stand up, Levi gripped his hands tightly around Eren's neck, but not tight enough to choke him.
"Sorry," He mumbled and rested his head on Eren's. Armin was beside them, holding Eren's backpack.
"It's okay, you are not that heavy."
"Thank you," Levi mumbled and turned his head to Armin, "Sorry, Armin, thank you."
"No biggies, I am not the one carrying you, Eren sure is strong," Blue eyes lit up, praising his friend.
"Hehee, it's nothing. We're almost there, does it still hurt?" Eren asked with worry.
"Not really, no," Levi was hiding his face into Eren's hair, smiling.
"Those wounds still need to be treated though. I will go ahead first and tell Mr. Shadis, okay?" Armin walked faster.
"Thank you, Armin!" Eren shouted which Armin replied with a small wave.
"Eren…"
"Hm?"
"I feel so embarrassed," Levi mumbled on Eren's hair.
"Why? Getting a piggy back ride like this?"
"No, stumbling on the rock, other students behind us were looking at me funny when they walked past us," He scowled.
Levi was happy beyond belief to be getting a piggy back from Eren though, no matter what people thought.
"I know. Rude," Eren frowned, "They supposed to help, and even Armin was running back to us to help you."
Levi shrugged, "Nevermind. It's just, the way I fell is weird and I hope they don't make fun of me."
"No, they won't. They are scared of you, because you always have this frowny face," Eren said before he realized his words sounded a bit harsh and it probably would hurt Levi's feelings, "Ah, I mean, it's um…"
"Are you scared of me, too?" Levi suddenly asked.
"No. Why would I be? I like you very, very much."
"Then it's fine. I don't care what people think."
"Weird…" Eren said playfully, making them both laugh together.
When they arrived, Mr. Shadis was waiting for them and immediately treated Levi's wounds.
"Everything is okay now, no deep wounds so it should heal quickly," Mr. Shadis patted Levi's shoulder and then did the same to Eren, "Thank you for carrying him, Eren. You are pretty strong," Eren giggled, despite his scary appearance, Mr. Shadis was a nice and loving teacher.
After treating Levi's wounds, Mr. Shadis was checking on the students carefully. And when all the students were already on the bus, the bus started and they were heading back to the school.
"Eren, you carried Levi all the way from the rocky path to the bus. That's kinda cool," Connie spoke while looking back and forth at Eren and Levi.
"Yes," Eren grinned proudly.
"I'm sorry we didn't help, Armin told us to go ahead," Marco said apologetically from behind Levi's seat.
"It's okay," Levi assured him.
"I could piggy back you faster than Eren if you had asked me," Jean told Levi while his eyes were challenging Eren.
"But I didn't want you to, horse-face. I wanted Eren to give me a piggy back ride," Levi deadpanned, making all the boys laugh but Jean.
The rest of the bus ride was quiet; the students were sleeping in their seats, tired after a long day of activity.
The sun was already set when they arrived at school, where the parents were waiting for their children to come back from the field trip to pick them up.
Eren and Levi were saying goodbye to their friends; they even managed to meet with Mikasa and waved her goodbye.
Eren offered another piggy back ride to Levi, but Levi declined. He didn't want to trouble Eren and didn't want him to think that Levi was weak no matter how much he enjoyed getting a piggy back ride from him. Besides, he was okay now even if the wounds still hurt a tiny little bit.
Carla had told the boys that morning that since their father was going to be coming home late from the hospital, she will pick them up and will be waiting in the school parking lot.
Carla was already waiting outside the car when her boys were walking toward the school parking lot to meet their mother.
"Hello, boys. I've been waiting for you," Carla told them as they approached her, then her eyes set on Levi's knees, "My, are you okay?" She asked with concern as the boys were climbing up to the car.
"I fell on rocky ground earlier, but I am okay," Levi answered while Carla was holding Levi's knees and caressing them, "Don't worry," He added.
"Well, if you say so," His mother said, as she smiled lovingly at Levi and gave his mother an assuring nod, she climbed into the driver's seat and started the car.
"I gave Levi a piggy back ride," Eren beamed and bounced on his seat.
"What a gentleman," Carla chuckled, "So, how was your field trip? I wish you could bring a camera and take pictures of you two for me but they're not allowing the students to bring any digital devices," She sighed sadly.
Eren told his mother about the entire day of their field trip eagerly while Levi only spoke when Carla asked them about specific things. The entire ride home filled with Eren's happy voice about the field trip.
"I am glad you guys had fun, I hope you made good memories," Carla said, taking a glance at her children from the rear mirror.
Levi was smiling, remembering about today's field trip and getting a piggy back from Eren, he felt really hurt when he fell but the pain slowly faded when Eren gave him a piggy back ride and wrapped his hands around Eren while resting his head on him, feeling safe and content.
Levi mumbled a small 'yes' to answer his mother's question while Eren was sleeping, his head on Levi's shoulder. Levi rested his head on Eren's head and fell asleep immediately.
'Yes, today Levi had made more good memories with Eren. This is the best field trip he has ever had.'
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One year later, school field trip to the historical museum for the 4th grade.
"This trip is kinda boring. I prefer last year's field trip where we could become one with nature," Eren pouts, "Glad it's over now," He sighed, this year's field trip was not to his liking.
"What about when we went to the planetarium and their art gallery in 2nd grade?" Levi asked with amusement on his face, Eren's pouty face was really cute.
"It's cool, the universe is amazing and their art gallery was my favorite since I like something artsy," Eren's face lit up remembering their 2nd grade field trip, the art of the universe was something magical and looked so beautiful.
"And what about when we went to the zoo in 1st grade?"
"Mmm, okay I guess? I don't really remember that one."
"So, this year's field trip is the only one you don't like?"
"Come on, you know it's kinda bor— Levi watch out!" Eren tried to grab Levi's hand but it was too late.
Levi stumbled on the stairway and fell with a loud thud.
"Ow…" Levi cringed.
"Oh my God, Levi, are you okay?!" Eren was running down the stairs and jumped over the last 2 stairs.
"I am okay but I think I sprained my right ankle," Levi still cringed while rubbing his ankle.
"Are you okay?" Their teacher, Mr. Shadis approached the boys who were now being surrounded by other curious students.
"Move along, children. Go with Mr. Dietrich to the bus, Levi and I will catch up," He said with a shooing motion towards the students to follow the other teacher, Ian Dietrich.
"Wait, I'll carry him," Eren told his teacher.
"It's okay, Eren. Go back to the bus. You too, boys," Mr. Shadis pointed at Armin, Connie, Marco, and Jean who were waiting for Eren to go back to bus with them.
"No, it's okay, Mr. Shadis," Eren said sternly, "Armin, hold my backpack please, you guys can go first," He gave his backpack to Armin and the blond haired boy replied with a nod and went back to the bus.
"Fine. Be careful, then. I'll be right behind you, making sure everyone already left the museum and went back to the bus," Their teacher said, letting Eren carry Levi to the bus.
"Sorry Eren," Levi mumbled while climbing on Eren's back.
"Is this going to be a thing from now on? I give you piggy back ride because you always fall when we are going back to the bus at the end of a field trip?" Eren asked playfully while laughing.
"Rude," Levi playfully slapped Eren's shoulder.
"I hope it's not going to be a thing every time we are on a field trip, I don't want to bothering you like this," He smiled.
While tightening his grip around Eren's neck, he added "Besides, I enjoy this."
"Falling down?"
"No, getting a piggy back ride from you," He hid his face in Eren's neck, smiling wide.
"Then just ask for a piggy back ride next time, no need to hurt yourself first so I have to carry you," Eren nudged Levi's head with his own.
"Then give me piggy back ride every time we are about to get on the bus at the end of a field trip."
"Fine~"
"Nah, I'm kidding," Levi scoffed.
"Nah, I'm not," Eren scoffed back.
"Silly," He giggled.
Little did Levi know, Eren gave him a piggy back ride every year during their elementary school field trips.
Not that Levi minded at all. In fact, he was happy with it. It felt right and it was making him feel safe and closer to Eren.
He was not embarrassed by Eren's actions no matter how the other students looked at them. Besides, Eren didn't mind. And Armin too, he didn't mind carrying Eren's backpack when he gave Levi a piggy back ride. Even Armin, Connie, Jean, and Marco took turns to give themselves a piggy back ride for fun.
It's not too bad. Not bad at all.
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Chapter End Notes:
If you are wondering, here are the field trip web sources that I used for this story:
Ocean Trip : maritimegloucester
Forest Trip : bernheim
Beta-ed by the lovely Fallen_Nightmares (ao3), thank you for the help! c:
